University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


CORRECTIONS. 

Page  40—  ninth  line— for  "  Mr.  Teller,"  read  "Mr. 
Chaffee." 

Page  159  Carlile's  vote  for  State  Treasurer 
should  be  43,494. 

Page  200-  twelfth  line— Waited  plurality  should 
be  5436. 

Page  280 — sixteenth  line—  Mclntlre's  plurality 
should  be  17,613. 


THE 


Political  Campaigns 

OF  COLORADO, 

WITH  COMPLETE  TABULATED  STATEMENTS  OF 
THE  OFFICIAL  VOTE. 


BY  R.  G.  DILX. 


THE  ARAPAHOE   PUBLISHING  CO.,   PUBLISHERS, 

1623  CURTIS  ST.,  DENVER. 


DENVER : 

JOHN  DOVE,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTER. 
1895. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  A.  D.  l 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  Washington,  D.  C. 
By  R.  (T.  DILL,  Denver,  Colorado. 


PS 


PREFACE. 


IT  has  been  the  intention,  in  compiling  this  lit- 
tle work,  while  keeping1  as  closel}'  as  possible 
to  the  occurrences  having1  an  influence  upon  the 
state  campaigns,  in  their  chronological  order,  to 
omit  all  details  and  incidents  which,  while  inter- 
esting in  themselves,  were  not  so  closely  con- 
nected with  final  results  as  to  render  them  neces- 
snry  to  a  proper  understanding  of  the  work.  It 
will  possibl}'  be  suggested  to  the  reader  that 
while  the  details  of  the  Democratic  conventions 
have  been  slighted,  an  undue  prominence  has 
been  given  to  Arapahoe  county.  This  is  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  object  of  the  work  and  the 
method  of  construction  adopted.  As  a  rule  the 
only  acts  of  Democratic  conventions  which  have 
had  an  influence  upon  the  results  of  a  campaign 
have  been  their  nominations.  Being  the  minori- 
ty party,  no  internal  arrangement,  party  rule  or 
policy,  or  method  of  party  government,  could  or- 
dinarily affect  the  general  result.  Political  his- 
tory is  made  \yy  the  dominant  party.  But  when 
the  acts  of  the  Democratic,  or  of  -any  other  party 
have  affected  the  campaign,  they  have  been  given 
clue  prominence,  with  all  the  necessary  attention 
to  detail.  As  regards  the  prominence  given  to 
Arapahoe  county,  it  must  be  remembered  that 
Arapahoe  necessarily  has  a  preponderating  in- 


> 


fluence  on  account  of  its  large  population.  This 
is  the  stor}'  of  the  entire  country — the  political 
influence  of  large  cities  is  not  onl}^  great,  but  is 
constantly  growing-  in  importance.  The  nomi- 
nation of  a  governor  of  Colorado  may  have  an 
intimate  connection  with  the  election  or  defeat  of 
a  Denver  alderman,  and  whoever  desires  to  trace 
all  the  political  influences  of  the  state  must  of 
necessity  investigate  the  internal  political  condi- 
tions of  a  community  containing  one-third  of  its 
population. 

Those  who  expect  to  find  in  this  book  a  vehi- 
cle for  the  dissemination  of  political  scandal 
will  be  disappointed.  If  facts  having  an  impor- 
tant bearing  on  the  issues  of  the  political  cam- 
paigns of  Colorado  arc'  scandalous  the  facts  are 
given,  but  there  is  no  attempt  to  retail  the  gos- 
sip that  always  follows  political  careers,  and 
peddle  out  the  scandals  which,  if  the}'  have  any 
foundation  at  all,  should  only  be  whispered  be- 
hind closed  doors,  or,  better  still,  buried  in  obliv- 
ion. This  book  is  only  what  is  represented  in  its 
title  a  truthful  story  of  the  political  campaigns 
of  Colorado,  compiled  in  the  main  from  personal 
recollections  and  private  memoranda,  supple- 
mented by  consultations  with  nearly  all  the  lead- 
ing actors  in  the  scenes  described.  The  conclu- 
sions may  be  erroneous;  the  facts  cannot  be 
denied. 


WHILE  the  political  history  of  Colo- 
rado  properl}r  commences  with  her  ad- 
mission to  the  Union,  several  circum- 
stances connected  with  her  history  prior  to  that 
time  are  necessary  to  a  proper  understanding-  of 
the  situation  in  1876. 

It  would  serve  no  good  purpose  to  refer  in  de- 
tail to  the  causes  which  led  to  the  revolt  against 
Grant  in  1874.  Governor  Klbert  had  been  re- 
moved, and  Mr.  Chaffee,  representing  the  best  Re- 
publican sentiment  of  the  state,  was  furious,  and 
was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  secure  his  re- 
instatement. In  this  he  was  unsuccessful.  In 
many  respects  Grant  was  exceedingly  tenacious 
of  his  opinion,  and  refused  to  reappoint  Klbert. 
Hon.  J.  D.  Ward,  of  Denver,  then  a  member  of 
Congress  from  Chicago,  a  warm  friend  of  Mr. 
Chaffee,  and  an  earnest  admirer  and  stanch  po- 
litical adherent  of  Piesident  Grant,  with  a  num- 
ber of  other  well  known  public  men,  acted  as 
mediators  and  effected  a  compromise.  John  L. 
Routt,  then  an  assistant  postmaster  general,  was 
suggested  for  governor.  Chaffee  was  not  spe- 
cially  intimate  with  Routt,  but  he  was  indifferent 
as  to  who  should  be  the  appointee,  so  that  Gov- 
ernor McCook  was  removed,  and  therefore  Routt 
was  appointed.  The  main  cause  of  the  quarrel 
was  the  appointment  of  the  territorial  officers 
from  the  ranks  of  broken  down  political  hacks 
from  the  eastern  states.  The  people  of  Colorado, 


6  RETROSPECTIVE 

without  regard  to  party  affiliations,  felt  that  east- 
ern senators  having  political  debts  to  pay  were 
using-  Colorado  as  a  hospital  for  crippled  and 
superannuated  henchmen,  and  naturally  resent- 
ed the  filling  of  federal  offices  with  men  to  whom 
the}^  applied  the  term  "  carpet-baggers,"  when 
there  was  superior  material  at  home — men  who 
had  been  identified  with  the  territory  from  its 
earliest  days,  and  were  never  found  wanting  when 
the  interests  of  Colorado  were  at  stake.  The  re- 
sult of  this  feeling  was  the  election  of  Hon  T.  M. 
Patterson  as  delegate  to  Congress  in  1874,  an  elec- 
tion which  taught  the  Washington  authorities  a 
much  needed  lesson,  and  resulted  in  the  appoint- 
ment of  Governor  Rontt,  but  which,  as  a  political 
experiment,  was  fraught  with  serious  possibili- 
ties to  the  Republican  part}'  when  the  state  was 
admitted. 

It  was  by  no  means  clear  that  the  Republicans 
could  carr}r  Colorado  in  187(3.  Governor  Routt, 
as  shown  above,  had  been  appointed  as  a  com- 
promise, but  still  he  was  a  "carpet-bagger,"  and 
there  were  very  man}-  who  still  resented  "carpet- 
bag" domination,  and  declined  to  consider  the 
circumstances  of  his  appointment.  But  the 
movement  for  statehood  had  taken  possession  of 
all  classes,  and  under  the  stimulus  of  this  move- 
ment it  was  resolved  to  so  far  as  possible  make 
an  effort  to  heal  existing  differences  in  the  Re- 
publican party,  with  a  view  to  the  possibilities 
of  Republican  success  in  the  first  state  election. 

Mr.  Patterson  labored  earnestly  for  the  pass- 
age of  the  enabling  act,  promising"  his  party  as- 


RETROSPECTIVE  7 

sociates  »  new  Democratic  state,  in  making*  which 
promise  he  was  full}7  warranted  b\r  the  apparent 
situation.  Mr.  Chaffee  took  the  higher  ground 
with  the  Republican  side  of  the  House  that  Colo- 
rado should  be  admitted  because  she  was  clearly 
entitled  to  the  honors  of  statehood.  Mr.  Chaffee, 
vhen  a  delegate,  had  made  many  warm  friend- 
ships among  his  colleagues,  and  received  valua- 
ble aid  now,  one  of  his  principal  assistants  being 
Hon.  J.  D.  Ward,  to  whom,  as  much  as  to  any  one 
man  outside  of  Messrs.  Chaffee  and  Patterson,  is 
due  the  admission  of  Colorado  in  1876.  Of  course, 
when  success  had  crowned  their  labors,  hosts  of 
claimants  to  the  honor  of  having  secured  the  ad- 
mission of  Colorado  sprang  to  the  front  in  the 
hope  of  substantial  reward.  But  the  truth  is,  that 
to  the  three  gentlemen  named,  is,  in  the  main 
due  the  admission  of  the  state  at  that  time..  Pres- 
ident Grant  was  not  readil}T  impressed  with  the 
wisdom  of  the  movement,  and  besides  he  was 
still  smarting  under  the  sting  of  the  opposition 
to  the  administration  shown  by  the  election  of 
Mr.  Patterson  in  1874,  but  his  objections  were 
finally  overruled,  and  the  act  was  passed.  Mr. 
Patterson  was  for  a  long  time  subjected  to  the 
unkind  criticisms  of  his  political  friends  for  his 
lack  of  political  judgment  in  urging  the  passage 
of  the  enabling  act  by  a  Democratic  House. 

The  passage  of  the  enabling  act  made  the 
election  for  members  of  the  Eleventh  Territorial 
Assembly  one  of  more  than  ordinary  importance, 
and  both  sides  put  forth  earnest  efforts  to  secure 
a  majority.  The  result  was  a  Republican  victory* 


8  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION 

but  by  so  narrow  a  margin  that  it  miglit  easily 
have  been  turned  into  defeat.  The  election  was 
held  on  September  14,  1875,  and  resulted  in  the 
election  of  a  Democratic  Council,  as  the  upper 
house  was  called,  with  one  majorit}',  and  a  Re- 
publican majorit}'  of  four  in  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives. The  vote  was  close  all  over  the 
territory,  and  indicated  very  clearly  that  there 
\vas  a  fighting  chance  for  either  part}'  in  the 
coming*  contest  for  supremacy'  in  the  new  state. 
In  illustration:  In  Arapahoe  county  the  average 
vote  was  3609;  for  member  of  the  council  Baxter 
B.  Stiles,  Republican,  received  1882  votes,  while 
Bela  M.  Hughes,  Democrat,  received  1905.  The 
vote  for  county  clerk  was  still  closer,  Wilbur  C. 
Lothrop  receiving  1815  to  1808  for  Charles  D.  Cobb. 

By  proclamation  of  the  governor  the  25th  day 
of  October  was  fixed  for  the  election  of  members 
of  the  constitutional  convention,  and  the  20th 
day  of  December  for  the  meeting  of  the  conven- 
tion. The  effect  of  the  Republican  victor}r  in 
September,  narrow  as  it  was,  was  to  inspire  the 
Republicans,  who  secured  a  good  working  ma- 
jorit}"  of  the  convention,  the  vote  on  organization 
standing  25  Republicans  to  12  Democrats.  The 
average  vote  in  Arapahoe  count}-  was  somewhat 
smaller  than  in  September  -only  about  2500. 

But  little  interest  was  taken  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  convention  except  in  so  far  as  the}r  affect- 
ed the  struggle  for  state  officers.  When  the  Ter- 
ritorial Assembly  met,  however,  on  January  3 
IS 70,  the  Republicans  were  confronted  by  a  new 
and  unlocked  for  clanger.  Ry  law  the  two  houses 


LAST   TERRITORIAL  ASSEMBLY  9 

were  to  be  called  to  order  at  noon  of  the  first 
Monda}'  of  January.  Karl}-  Mondaj-  morning  it 
was  whispered  about  that  the  Democrats  had  se- 
cured three  men  who  had  been  regarded  as  Re- 
publicans— I.  N.  Peyton  of  Saguache,  R.  J.  McNutt 
of  Rio  Grande,  and  T.  M.  Trippe  of  San  Juan.  In- 
vestigation proved  the  truth  of  the  rumor  in  so 
far — that  the  gentlemen  named  had  declined  to 
attend  the  Republican  caucus  at  the  office  of 
W.  B.  Mills,  on  Larimer  street,  near  the  corner  of 
lOth.  The  Democratic  caucus  was  held  at  the 
American  House,  and  inquiries  at  that  place  dis- 
closed the  fact  that  while  the  hold-outs  had  not 
attended  the  Democratic  caucus,  a  committee 
was  out  in  conference  with  them.  It  was  felt  that 
the  control  of  both  houses  b}^  the  Democrats 
would  be  a  serious  menace  to  Republican  su- 
premacy, and  a  committee  of  prominent  Repub- 
licans was  requested  to  ascertain  the  causes,  and 
the  probable  remedy  for  the  threatened  defection. 
To  this  committee,  of  which  N.  H.  Meldrum  and 
Amos  Steck  were  members,  Mr.  Peyton  admitted 
the  scheme,  which  was  to  secure  certain  posi- 
tions for  himself  and  his  friends.  He  demanded 
the  nomination  for  speaker,  agreeing  to  with- 
draw in  favor  of  the  caucus  nominee,  the  elec- 
tion of  his  brother  as  clerk,  and  several  appoint- 
ments and  committee  chairmanships.  The  mat- 
ter was  finall}^  settled  by  Hon.  Jerome  B.  Chaffee, 
and  the  combine  secured  practically  all  ihey  de- 
manded, a  compromise  being  effected  whereb}^ 
Peyton's  brother  was  appointed  assistant  clerk 
of  the  house,  and  at  the  appointed  time  the  leg- 


10  CONSTITUTION   ADOPTED 

islature  was  organized,  with  Adair  Wilson  Presi- 
dent and  James  T.  Smith  Secretary  of  the  Senate, 
Alfred  Butters  Speaker  and  Joseph  T.  Bo}~d,  of 
Golden,  Clerk  of  the  House. 

The  proceedings  of  the  legislature  during-  the 
remainder  of  the  session  were  devoid  of  special 
interest,  save  in  regard  to  a  resolution  introduced 
b}r  Mr.  Pisko,  of  Arapahoe,  dispensing  with  the 
services  of  a  chaplain,  which,  being  adopted, 
caused  considerable  discussion  among  the  vari- 
ous religious  societies,  and  gave  rise  to  the  sobri- 
quet of  " The  Pray erlesa  House." 

On  March  16  the  constitutional  convention  ad- 
journed, having  completed  the  work  for  which  it 
was  called  together,  and  submitted  the  instru- 
ment to  the  people  at  an  election  to  be  held  on 
Julyl.  The  election,  so  far  as  Denver  was  con- 
cerned, and,  in  fact,  at  nearly  ever}'  polling  place 
in  the  territory,  was  a  mere  formality.  The  act 
provided  that  no  registration  should  be  required, 
and  that  his  presence  at  the  poll  should  be  the 
sole  qualification  of  the  voter.  With  such  regu- 
lations it  is  not  surprising  that  Denver,  which 
polled  fewer  than  4000  votes  at  the  preceding 
count}'  election,  and  fewer  than  2,100  at  the  elec- 
tion for  members  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion, rolled  up  a  vote  of  5200  for  and  none  against 
the  constitution,  out  of  a  population  of  about 
17,000.  The  state  gave  15,413  for,  and  4039  against 
the  instrument. 

From  the  moment  of  the  ratification  of  the 
fundamental  law,  aspirants  for  honors  under  the 
new  state  government  commenced  maneuvering 


GUBERNATORIAL  CANDIDATES  11 

for  the  advantage  of  position.  Naturally  the 
chief  struggle  was  for  the  gubernatorial  chair. 
Governor  Routt,  ex-Governor  Klbert,  Hon.  George 
M.  Chilcott,  of  Pueblo,  and  Hon.  Lafayette  Head, 
of  Conejos,  were  the  principal  candidates  for  the 
nomination. 

There  is  little  doubt  now  that  Governor  Klbert 
was  the  favorite,  both  with  the  people  and  with 
the  Republican  leaders.  He  had  been  removed 
from  office  by  President  Grant,  against  the  re- 
monstrances of  a  majority  of  the  people,  which 
removal  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  revolt  of 
1871;  he  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  abilities,  a  good 
lawyer,  and  possessed  of  all  of  the  higher  quali- 
fications demanded  in  the  nominee  for  so  high 
an  office.  His  candidacy  was  not  in  the  nature 
of  mere  self-seeking;  it  was  dignified  and  honor- 
able, and  met  with  the  approval  of  the  best  men 
of  the  party,  notably  of  Hon.  Jerome  B.  Chaffee, 
and  the  strong  political  following  of  \vhich  he 
was  the  acknowledged  chief.  Klbert  was  willing 
but  not  over  anxious  for  the  honor.  It  was  an 
open  secret  that  his  father-in-law,  ex-Governor 
Kvans,  would  be  gratified  if  he  should  be  chosen 
as  one  of  the  senators,  and  for  that  reason  Gov- 
ernor Klbert  was  ready  to  stand  aside  at  an}7  time 
should  party  harmony  demand  his  withdrawal. 

Governor  Routt  based  his  claims  on  the  fact 
that  he  had  been  governor  of  the  territory  for  a 
little  over  a  year,  and  the  allegations  that  he  had 
been  one  of  the  principal  factors  in  the  admis- 
sion of  Colorado,  and  had  been  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  the  healing  up  of  the  breach  between 


1  2  KEPU  B  LIC  A  X   COX  VEX  Tl  OX 

the  factions.  Whatever  of  merit  there  may  have 
been  in  these  claims  was  not  allowed  to  suffer  by 
neglect,  nor  to  lose  weight  in  their  application  to 
Routt's  candidacy.  The  fact  that  he  was  a  "  car- 
pet-bag- "  appointee  was  against  him,  but  he  pos- 
sessed an  energetic  persistence  that  was  at  that 
time  a  comparatively  unknown  quantit}-  in  Colo- 
rado politics.  His  peculiar  claims  were  scarcely 
considered  at  first,  but  they  were  well  stuck  to, 
while  other  important  interests  were  not  neglect- 
ed, and  before  the  preliminary  caucussing  was 
over  he  had  convinced  the  delegates  that  though 
a  "  carpet-bagger,"  he  had  come  to  Colorado  to 


George  M.  Chilcott  was  the  second  choice  of 
the  Republican  leaders.  He  was  eminently  re- 
spectable,  a  man  of  more  than  average  ability, 
and  had  served  as  delegate  to  Congress  with 
credit  to  himself  and  with  benefit  to  his  constitu- 
ents. But  he  did  not  want  the  nomination  for 
governor,  having-  fixed  his  aspirations  upon  the 
United  States  Senate. 

Mr.  Head  was  popular  in  the  south,  and  with 
the  Mexicans,  and  had  a  large  and  enthusiastic 
following,  but  there  were  vital  reasons  which 
rendered  his  nomination  undesirable. 

The  Republican  state  committee  met  at  Mani- 
tou  on  July  21,  with  Mr.  Chaffee  in  the  chair,  and 
called  the  convention  to  meet  at  Pueblo  on  Au- 
gust 23. 

The  delegates  met  at  Pueblo  with  no  definite 
idea  upon  an}-  of  the  offices,  except  for  governor, 
and  upon  this  office  there  seemed  to  be  no  possi- 


ROUTT  NOMINATED  FOR   GOVERNOR  13 

bility  of  harmon}7.  It  was  only  the  good  sense 
of  the  delegates  that  prevented  serious  dissen- 
sion and  possible  defeat.  The  convention  met  in 
the  morning  and  organized  \)y  the  selection  of 
John  H.  Cleghorn  as  temporary,  and  Alvin  Marsh 
of  Gilpin  as  permanent  chairman.  Two  ballots  for 
governor  were  taken  without  result,  when  an  ad- 
journment was  had  until  afternoon.  Upon  reas- 
sembling in  the  afternoon  two  more  ballots  were 
taken,  still  without  result,  \vhen  an  adjournment 
was  had  until  evening".  During  the  intermission 
Routt  was  indefatigable  in  pressing  his  claims, 
both  upon  the  delegates  and  upon  his  rivals. 
Elbert  was  his  principal  antagonist,  but  a  num- 
ber of  Elbert's  friends  and  supporters  were  anx- 
ious that  he  should  accept  the  nomination  for 
one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court,  and 
aided  by  this  sentiment  Routt's  persistent  energy 
won  the  day,  and  mainly  through  his  own  efforts 
he  succeeded  in  securing  the  nomination.  Ear- 
nest efforts  had  been  made  during  the  day  to 
force  a  nomination,  but  the  convention  resolutely 
crushed  ever}7  move  in  that  direction,  determined 
that  a  spirit  of  harmony  should  be  evoked  before 
the  making  of  an}7  nominations.  The  four  bal- 
lots taken  were  as  follows: 


1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

Head,         58 

64 

40 

34 

Elbert,      51 

62 

53 

40 

Routt,        32 

1 

24 

29 

Chilcott,     4 

18 

23 

20 

The  personal  appeals  of   Routt,  the  dignified 
position  of  Elbert,  and  the  indifference,  at  least, 


14  DEMOCRATS   NOMINATE 

of  Chilcott,  were  productive  of  harmony.  Klbert 
and  Chilcott  withdrew  in  favor  of  Routt,  arid 
Head  was  placated  with  the  second  place  on  the 
ticket.  When  the  convention  assembled  in  the 
evening  it  was  evident  that  the  gubernatorial 
contest  had  been  eliminated  from  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  convention.  Routt  and  Head  were 
nominated  by  acclamation,  Belforcl  was  unani- 
mously chosen  as  the  candidate  for  congress. 
\V.  M.  Clark  for  secretary  of  state,  and  the  other 
places  on  the  ticket  were  filled  with  but  little 
friction.  The  campaign  was  inaugurated,  the 
part}'  was  united,  and  a  vigorous  canvass  was 
decided  upon. 

On  August  29  the  Democrats  met  at  Maniton 
and  nominated  Bel  a  >I.  Hughes  for  governor, 
Michael  Beshoar  for  lieutenant-governor,  James 
T.  Smith  for  secretary  of  state,  and  T.  M.  Patter- 
son for  congress. 

'Shortly  before  the  election,  which  had  been 
fixed  by  the.  constitution  for  October  3,  the  first 
Tuesday  in  the  month,  it  was  discovered  that 
provision  had  been  made  for  the  election  of  a 
congressman  for  one  term  only.  A  portion  of 
the  44th  and  all  of  the  45th  congress  were  to  be 
provided  for.  A  discussion  arose  regarding  the 
matter,  and  it  was  contended  by  some  of  the  Re- 
publican leaders  that  both  terms  could  be  pro- 
vided for  at  one  election  under  the  terms  of  the 
enabling  act.  This  was  disputed  1)}'  others,  and 
legal  opinions  were  given  sustaining  both  sides 
of  the  controversy.  It  was  finalh^  decided  that 
the  Republican  ticket  should  be  printed  with  the 


CAMPAIGN    INCIDENTS  15 

name  of  Mr.  Belford  ns  the  candidate  for  both 
the  44th  and  45th  congresses.  Territorial  Secre- 
tary Taffe,  however,  took  a  different  view  of  the 
matter,  and  issued  a  call  for  an  election  for  mem- 
ber of  the  45th  congress  on  November  7.  But  lit- 
tle attention  was  paid  to  this,  and  the  campaign 
\vas  vigorously  pressed. 

Patterson  and  Belford  took  the  stump  and  tor- 
rents of  eloquence  echoed  and  re-echoed  from  the 
cliffs  and  canons  of  the  continental  divide.  Gov- 
ernor Routt  made  a  few  speeches,  in  one  of 
which  he  referred  to  the  facility  with  which  he 
could  crawl  through  the  lower  rails  while  his  op- 
ponent was  getting*  over  the  fence,  a  remark 
which  caused  him  to  be  mercilessly  cartooned 
by  the  Mirror,  a  bright  Sunday  paper  then  pub- 
lished in  Denver  by  Stanley  Fowler,  and  of  which 
John  Arkins  was  foreman. 

When  the  election  was  over  it  was  claimed  by 
both  parties.  Nearly  a  week  elapsed  before  a 
sufficient  number  of  returns  had  been  received 
to  afford  a  basis  for  an  intelligent  estimate.  The 
exact  figures  could  not  be  ascertained  for  some 
time,  as  the  count  in  L/as  Animas  county  was  de- 
layed for  several  days.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  Democratic  managers  really  believed  that 
the}7  had  carried  the  state,  though  before  the  re- 
turns from  Las  Animas  county  were  received  it 
was  figured  by  the  Republicans  that  the}'  had 
carried  the  state  by  from  500  to  2000  majority,  an 
estimate  that  was  fully  justified  by  the  official 
returns.  Mr.  Beshoar,  Democratic  candidate  for 
lieutenant-governor,  and  manager  of  his  party's 


16  REPUBLICANS  vSUCC 


interests  in  Las  Aniinas  couiit3",  kept  the  wires. 
warm  with  telegrams  to  chairman  Butler,  all  of 
which  were  faithfull;v  delivered  to  chairman  Wil- 
son, of  the  Republican  committee,  through  a  con- 
venient leak  in  the  wire,  and  much  amusement, 
and  not  a  little  virtuous  Republican  indignation 
was  created  by  an  alleged  telegram  to  Mr.  Butler 
asking  what  majority  was  needed  from  Las  Ani- 
mas,  and  signed  "  M.  Beshoar,"  the  authenticit}' 
of  which  was  always  denied  by  the  alleged 
signer. 

Pending  the  receipt  of  the  Las  Animas  returns, 
and  after  it  was  a  moral  certainty  that  no  figures 
that  were  likely  to  be  received  from  that  count}- 
could  affect  the  result,  the  state  was  still  claimed 
by  the  Democracy,  and  telegrams  were  sent  to 
"Doc/'  Miller,  of  the  Omaha  Herald,  to  59  Libert}" 
street,  New  York  City,  the  private  office  of  Mr. 
Tilclen,  and  to  the  chairman  of  the  Democratic 
state  central  committee  of  Indiana,  that  state  be- 
ing regarded  as  one  of  the  pivotal  states,  claim- 
ing Colorado  for  the  Democracy. 

The  official  figures  from  Las  Animas  count}' 
were  not  received  until  just  before  the  meeting 
of  the  board  for  the  canvass  of  the  vote  for  mem- 
ber of  congress,  on  October  28,  which  was  held 
in  the  g-overnor's  office  in  the  Tappan  building4, 
at  the  corner  of  15th  and  Holladay  streets.  When 
the  returns  were  opened  it  was  found  that  Las 
Animas  had  given  a  majority  of  602  against 
Routt.  The  returns  were  in  such  a  condition  that 
the  propriety  of  considering*  them  vas  seriously 
questioned,  The  footings  were  in  several  in- 


AX  IMPORTANT   QUESTION.  17 

stances  wrong-,  were  carried  out  on  the  wrong- 
lines,  and  the  entire  document  was  such  a  mass 
of  contradictions  that  a  special  clerical  force  was 
found  necessary  for  the  elucidation  of  its  iii3rste- 
ries.  The  room  was  filled  with  interested  parties, 
including1  representatives  of  each  of  the  city  pa- 
pers, and  the  document  was  passed  around  for 
inspection.  It  was  the  opinion  of  every  one  pres- 
ent that  the  board  was  justified  in  its  doubts  re- 
garding- the  propriety  of  accepting  the  returns. 
But  even  with  so  heavy  a  Democratic  majority 
the  result  was  not  changed,  and  the  vote  of  Las 
Animas  was  counted,  the  complete  canvass  show- 
ing1 that  Mr.  Belford  had  received  510  majority  for 
the  Mth,  and  1020  majority  for  the  45th  congress. 

Immediately  after  the  election  the  necessit}^ 
for  an  election  in  November  for  member  of  the 
45th  congress  again  became  the  subject  of  dis- 
cussion. Secretar}r  Taffe  insisted  that  it  was  nec- 
essar}^.  Governor  Routt  and  Mr.  Chaffee  were 
equall3r  positive  that  it  was  not.  Mr.  Hamill  saw 
the  danger  of  allowing  the  election  to  go  by  de- 
fault with  a  Democratic  house  of  representatives 
as  the  court  of  final  resort,  and  sided  with  Mr. 
Taffe.  There  was  no  doubt  felt  that  the  Republi- 
cans could  carr}"  the  election,  but  there  was  a 
doubt  in  the  minds  of  verj'  mari3r  of  the  party 
leaders  whether  there  was  an}7  leg*al  necessit}'  for 
having'  an  election. 

During  the  discussion  upon  the  question  it 
was  charged  by  the  Republicans  that  an  agree- 
ment had  been  entered  into  bet \veen  the  leaders 
of  the  two  parties  that  one  election  should  settle 


18  AX   ALLEGED  AGREEMENT 

the  representation  in  both  the  44th  and  4oth  con- 
gresses. This  was  always  strenuous^  denied  by 
Mr.  Patterson  and  Mr.  Butler,  though  the  charge 
took  the  color  of  truth  from  the  fact  that  the 
Democratic  tickets,  like  those  of  their  opponents, 
were  printed  with  Mr.  Patterson's  name  as  the 
candidate  for  each  congress.  Mr.  Patterson,  how- 
ever, always  denied  that  this  was  done  with  his 
consent,  alleging  that  being  in  the  field,  looking 
after  the  interests  of  his  canvass,  he  knew  noth- 
ing about  the  arrangements  made  by  his  com. 
mittee  for  pi  inting  the  tickets  until  after  the}^  had 
been  made;  that  he  had  alwa}Ts  contended  that 
the  November  election  was  necessary;  that  he 
protested  against  the  printing  of  the  tickets  in 
that  manner,  and  that  where  he  had  an  opportu- 
nit}r,  which  was  in  half  a  dozen  of  the  mountain 
counties,  he  had  caused  his  name  as  a  candidate 
for  the  45th  congress  to  be  omitted  from  the  tick- 
et. Mr.  C.  S.  Thomas,  who  had  charge  of  the 
preparation  and  printing  of  the  Democratic  tick- 
ets, alleged  that  he  had  them  printed  in  that  form 
for  the  reason  that  he  knew  that  the  Republicans 
were  of  the  opinion  that  one  election  was  all  that 
was  necessary,  and  as  he  fully  believed  that  Mr. 
Patterson  would  be  elected,  he  thought  that  the 
Republicans  would  give  up  the  contest,  and  that 
the  necessit}^  for  the  November  election  would 
be  obviated  by  the  giving  of  both  certificates  to 
the  Democratic  candidate. 

On  the  other  side,  Chairman  Wilson,  of  the  Re- 
publican committee,  furnished  important  evi- 
dence against  the  assertion  that  an  agreement 


"TOM  PATTERSON'S  ELECTION"  19 

between  the  two  parties  had  been  entered  into,  by 
the  publication,  a  few  days  after  the  election,  of 
a  congratulate^  address  to  the  Republicans  of 
the  state,  in  which  he  cautioned  them  that  anoth- 
er contest  was  to  be  had,  and  urged  them  to  see 
that  the  full  part}'  strength  was  polled  at  the 
election  called  for  November  7.  The  weight  of 
the  testimony  therefore,  is  in  favor  of  Mr.  Patter- 
son's position,  that  no  agreement  was  made,  and 
that  no  agreement  that  might  have  been  made 
would  have  been  binding*  against  the  plain  pro- 
visions of  the  act  of  congress  providing  for  the 
election  of  members  of  congress.  In  the  exam- 
ination upon  Mr.  Patterson's  contest  Mr.  Chaffee 
gave  the  strongest  testimony  that  was  brought 
forward  in  support  of  the  allegation  that  an 
agreement  had  been  made,  and  that  was  that  in  a 
conversation  with  him  Mr.  Patterson  had  stated 
that  if  he  was  beaten  in  October  he  would  go  to 
work.  The  fact  is  that  the  Republicans  made  a 
serious  mistake,  and  the  assertion  of  some  extra 
legal  agreement  was  a  poor  excuse  for  an  inex- 
cusable political  error. 

The  advertisement  calling  the  election  had 
been  running  nearl}^  a  month  when  Mr.  Taffe  final- 
ly 3Tielcled  to  the  arguments  of  the  Republican 
leaders,  and  withdrew  it  on  October  14,  on  which 
date  Mr.  Wilson  issued  another  circular,  advising 
Republican  voters  to  pa}-  no  attention  to  Mr.  Pat- 
terson's election. 

Mr.  Patterson,  however,  insisted  that  the  polls 
should  be  opened  in  accordance  with  the  call  of 
the  territorial  secretary,  which  had  been  obeyed 


20  SENATORIAL 

1>3^  the  sheriffs  of  the  several  counties,  and  the 
vote  taken,  and  while  Republicans  laughed  or 
sneered,  went  on  serenely  with  his  preparations 
for  what  was  facetiously  termed  "Tom  Patter- 
son's election."  The  affair  was  treated  as  a  joke, 
and  on  the  day  of  election  very  few  Republicans 
offered  their  ballots.  When  the  regular^  ap- 
pointed judges  of  election  were  not  present,  their 
places  were  filled  from  among  the  b3Tstanclers, 
and  the  election  proceeded  with  all  due  observ- 
ance of  the  forms  of  law.  The  returns  were 
properly  forwarded  to  the  state  canvassing  board, 
but  were  not  received.  He  laughs  best  who 
laughs  last,  and  Mr.  Patterson  proved  the  truth 
of  the  proverb. 

During  the  campaign  a  quartette  composed 
of  Porter  Warner,  Charles  Y.  McClure,  W.  W. 
Knight  and  C.  W.  Sanborn,  created  considerable 
amusement  by  singing  a  song  entitled  "  Tommy 
don't  go,"  but  Tommy  did  go. 

The  legislature  met  on  November  6,  and  one  of 
its  first  duties  was  the  canvass  of  the  vote  for 
state  officers,  the  result  showing  that  Routt  had 
received  a  majority  of  838,  J.  C.  Shattuck,  for  su- 
perintendent of  public  instruction  leading  the 
ticket  with  a  majority  of  1831. 

When  the  time  came  for  the  election  of  sena- 
tors several  candidates  were  in  the  field,  includ- 
ing ex-Governor  Evans,  Jerome  B.  Chaffee,  Henry 
M.  Teller,  Moses  Hallett,  W.  S.  Jackson,  George 
M.  Chilcott  and  Wm.  H.  Van  Giesen.  Hon.  S.  H. 
Klbert,  though  he  had  been  elected  a  member  of 
the  supreme  bench,  was  also  favorably  consider- 


SENATORIAL  21 

ed.  The  claims  of  Mr.  Chaffee  were  universally 
conceded.  His  position  as  the  most  prominent 
Republican  in  the  state  was  be3Tond  question, 
and  his  labors  for  the  admission  of  the  state  and 
for  the  success  of  the  Republican  party  fairly  en- 
titled him  to  the  honor.  He  vas  possessed  of 
large  means  for  that  time,  and  had  not  been  spar- 
ing- of  his  contributions  to  the  expenses  of  the 
campaign.  The  Rio  Grande  railroad,  in  1876,  end- 
ed at  Pueblo,  with  a  branch  to  Canon  City;  the 
Colorado  Central  had  its  terminus  at  Central  City. 
This  was  the  extent  of  our  mountain  railroad 
system.  Everything-  was  at  the  highest  notch, 
and  the  necessary  contributions  for  the  legiti- 
mate expenses  of  the  campaign,  if  the  candidates 
alone  had  been  depended  upon,  would  have  ab- 
sorbed a  great  part  of  the  salary  roll  for  the  two 
years'  term.  The  candidates  were  all  compara- 
tively poor  men,  and  their  assessments  \vere 
merely  nominal.  Mr.  Chaffee  assumed  the  bulk 
of  the  expense,  and  was  liberally  seconded  by 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  Hamill,  and  to  these  two  men  was 
in  great  measure  due  the  success  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  The  members  of  the  assembly  knew 
this,  and  there  was  no  question  of  the  election  of 
Mr.  Chaffee.  As  to  his  colleague,  it  was  solely  a 
matter  of  availability.  Either  of  the  candidates 
would  have  been  acceptable  to  the  people,  but 
which  would  most  contribute  to  the  necessary 
party  harmony? 

Mr.  Teller's  special  fitness  for  the  senate  was 
conceded,  but  there  was  considerable  feeling 
against  him  among  the  members  of  the  assem- 


22  CHAFFEE  AND  TELLER  ELECTED 

bly,  growing  out  of  certain  political  matters  in 
the  old  territorial  days,  together  with  some  re- 
sentment because  he  had  not  taken  a  more  active 
part  in  the  canvass.  His  ejection,  therefore,  was 
a  matter  of  some  doubt.  Mr.  Hamill  had,  b}' 
force  of  natural  ability,  attained  the  leadership 
of  the  upper  house,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 
He  had  been  a  trusted  lieutenamt  of  Mr.  Chaffee 
during  the  campaign,  knew  that  the  bitterness 
engendered  by  the  campaign  of  1874,  in  which 
Teller  and  Chaffee  had  taken  opposite  sides, 
must  be  softened  down  to  insure  future  success, 
and  therefore  addressed  himself  to  the  task  of 
healing  the  breach  between  the  friends  of  the 
two  leaders,  and  securing  the  election  of  Mr.  Tel- 
ler. Mr.  Hamill  was  vigorousljr  opposed  at  first, 
but  was  finally  successful. 

The  legislature  stood  19  Republicans  and  7 
Democrats  in  the  senate  and  31  Republicans  and 
18  Democrats  in  the  house.  The  Republican  cau~ 
cus  was  held  on  November  14.  Mr.  Chaffee  was 
nominated  without  opposition.  On  the  informal 
ballot  for  his  colleague,  Mr.  Teller  received  6 
votes.  On  the  first  formal  ballot  Teller  received 
16  votes,  on  the  second  16,  on  the  third  18,  on  the 
fourth  13,  on  the  fifth  15,  and  on  the  sixth  16.  The 
caucus  then  adjourned  to  the  following  day.  On 
the  15th  Teller  received  23  votes  on  the  first  bal- 
lot. At  this  juncture  W.  A.  Hamill  and  A.  C. 
Phelps,  who  had  been  voting  for  Judge  Hallett- 
changed  to  Teller.  Immediately  afterward  \V. 
H.  Green  of  Hinsdale  changed  his  vote  to  Teller, 
followed  by  W.  H.  Meyer  of  Costilla  and  Isaac 


PATTERSON'vS  CONTEST  23 

Gotthelf  of  Sag"uache.  This  was  a  majority  of 
the  caucus,  and  Teller  was  declared  the  nominee 
of  the  Republican  party.  Messrs.  Chaffee  and 
Teller  received  the  full  Republican  vote,  the 
Democrats  voting-  for  Thomas  Macon  and  W.  A. 
H.  Loveland. 

The  short  term  expired  on  March  4,  1877;  the 
long-  term  on  March  4,  1879.  When  lots  were 
drawn  Mr.  Teller  drew  the  short  term,  and  on  De- 
cember 12  was  elected  for  the  full  term  of  six 
years,  commencing-  March  4,  1877.  Mr.  Teller's 
career,  in  the  senate  and  in  the  cabinet,  has  fully 
justified  the  confidence  then  felt  in  his  ability, 
notwithstanding-  the  political  objections  to  his 
election  which  then  existed. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring-  Mr.  Pat- 
terson was  industriously  laboring  to  turn  his  de- 
feat into  victor}^  He  did  not  then  occupy  hand- 
some rooms  in  one  of  our  business  palaces.  He 
had  achieved  distinction  at  the  bar,  but  his  quar- 
ters were  in  dusty,  illy-ventilated  rooms  in  the 
Tappan  building.  Here,  after  both  certificates  of 
election  had  been  given  to  Mr.  Belford,  he  was  at 
work  on  his  contest,  the  testimony  being-  taken 
before  United  States  Commissioner  Robert  H. 
Buck.  Notice  of  contest  had  been  served  upon 
Judge  Belford,  but  to  the  average  Republican  it 
seemed  a  farce.  Patterson  knew  better.  He  has 
always  obtained  the  credit  of  being  a  consum- 
mate actor,  but  his  ability  is  far  from  farcical. 
He  knew  his  grounds  from  the  start,  and  the 
event  justified  his  course. 

When  the  case  came  [up   in  congress  the    re- 


2±  MK>.  PATTERSON  SEATED. 

suit  was  a  matter  of  very  serious  doubt.  Mr.  Chaf- 
fee  conducted  a  vigorous  fight  for  Belford,  and 
at  one  time  it  seemed  as  if  he  might  win  the  con- 
test. The  committee  was  divided  on  the  merits 
of  the  case,  regardless  of  the  partisan  phases  of 
the  question.  Three  reports  were  submitted  to 
the  house — a  majority  report  favoring  the  seating 
of  Patterson,  a  minority  report  in  favor  of  Bel- 
ford,  and  a  third  declaring  neither  of  the  contest- 
ants elected,  and  referring  the  matter  back  to  the 
people  of  Colorado.  The  minority  report  was 
defeated  b3'  but  one  majority.  The  majority  re- 
port was  adopted  bj~  several  majority,  and  Pat- 
terson was  seated. 

The  action  of  Mr.  Patterson  and  the  Demo- 
cratic house  of  representatives  was  fiercely  de- 
nounced. It  was  persistently  alleged  that  there 
was  an  agreement — that  if  there  was  not  a  valid 
agreement  there  was  a  tacit,  mutual  understand- 
ing, which  was  ruthlessly  violated,  and  that  the 
occupancy  of  the  seat  to  which  Mr.  Belford  was 
elected  in  October  was  a  steal,  and  with  this 
opinion  most  Republicans  who' participated  in 
that  election  will  agree  tocla\r.  But  at  this  dis 
tance,  apart  from  the  heat  and  smoke  of  actual 
conflict,  while  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  it 
was  a  good  enough  steal  for  partisan  purposes, 
it  is  as  well  to  admit  the  truth.  Mr.  Patterson's 
position  was  legally  and  technicalty  correct, 
while  the  weight  of  testimony  is  against  the 
probability  of  there  being  any  agreement.  Mr. 
Patterson  knew  that  the  Republicans  had  decided 
to  rest  their  case  upon  the  October  election,  for 


BELFORI)  SEATED  IN   THE  44TH  CONGRESS      25 

both  congresses,  but  did  not  admit  that  he  should 
do  so,  when  under  his  reading-  of  the  law  the  No- 
vember election  was  a  legal  requirement.  Kvery 
Republican  in  the  state  knew  that  the  election 
had  been  called  by  the  proper  authorit3r  and  that 
it  was  to  be  held,  and  Mr.  Patterson  declined  to 
be  held  responsible  for  the  neglect  of  his  politi- 
cal enemies. 

The  sting"  of  Patterson's  success  was  intensi- 
fied by  the  fact  that  the  result  could  have  been 
easily  prevented  had  the  Republicans  taken  into 
consideration  the  usual  practice  of  political 
bodies  in  such  cases.  In  Clear  Creek  county  alone 
did  the  Republicans,  under  the  leadership  of  Mr. 
Hamill,  pay  any  general  attention  to  "Tom  Pat- 
terson's election,"  and  there  Patterson  was  be- 
hind in  the  returns. 

It  was  alleged  at  the  time  that  Mr.  Patterson 
had  contested  the  seat  in  the  44th  congress.  No 
particle  of  evidence  sustains  the  accusation. 
The  opposition  to  the  seating  of  Mr.  Belford 
arose  from  the  Democratic  policy  of  refusing  to 
recognize  Colorado  as  a  state  on  account  of  its  ef- 
fect upon  the  presidential  election.  Mr.  Belford's 
recognition  carried  with  it  the  recognition  of  the 
presidential  electors.  The  rejection  of  the  elec- 
toral vote  of  Colorado  necessarily  carried  with  it 
the  rejection  of  her  member  of  congress.  After 
the  election  Mr.  Randall,  then  speaker,  wrote  to 
Mr.  Patterson  that  he  would  be  recognized  as 
the  delegate  from  Colorado,  to  which  the  repl}r 
was  made  that  Colorado  was  a  state,  and  Mr.  Bel- 
ford  had  been  elected  to  the  44th  congress.  There 


^6  THE    CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION 

was  a  dense  atmosphere  of  trickery,  falsehood 
and  treacher}^  surrounding-  the  political  contests 
of  1676,  and  when  possible  the  blame  should  rest 
where  it  belongs.  From  start  to  finish  Mr.  Pat- 
terson labored  earnestly  for  the  admission  of  the 
state,  even  when  its  admission  involved  the  loss 
of  a  Democratic  president.  Mr.  Belforcl  was 
finally  admitted  to  his  seat  in  the  44th  congress 
during  the  last  days  of  the  session. 


CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTION. 

President — Joseph  C.  Wilson 
Secretary—  W.  W.  Coulson. 

H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  Wm.  R.  Kennedy, 

Casimero  Barela,  Alvin  Marsh, 

George  Boyles,  Wm.  H.  Meyer, 

Wm.  E.  Beck,  S.  J.  Plumb, 

Byron  L.  Carr,  George  E.  Pease, 

Wm.  H.  ("ashman,  Robert  A.  Quillian, 

Wm.  M.  Clark,  L.  C.  Rockwell, 

A.  D.  Cooper,  Wilbur  F.  Stone, 

Henry  R.  Crosby,  Wm.  C.  Stover, 

Robert  Douglas,  Henry  C.  Thatcher. 

Lewis  C.  Ellsworth,  Agapito  Vigil, 

Clarence  P.  Elder,  W.  W.  Webster, 

F.  J  Ebert,  George  G.  White, 

W.  B.  Felton,  E,  T.  Wells, 

Jesus  M.  Garcia,  P.  P.  Wilcox, 

Daniel  Hurd,  John  S.  Wheeler, 

John  S.  Hough,  J.  W.  Widderfield, 

Lafayette  Head,  Abram  Knox  Yount. 
Wm.  H.  James, 


OFFICIAL  VOTK,  1876. 
PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

The  constitution  provided  that  the  presidential  electors  should 
be  elected  by  the  legislature  in  1876.  Accordingly  on  November  3 
an  act  was  passed  providing  for  such  election  on  November  7.  On 
that  date  Otto  Mears,  Wm.  L.  Hadley  and  Herman  Beckurts  were 
elected,  receiving  50  votes  to  24  for  M.  A  Otero,  J.  H.  Jones  and 
Adair  Wilson,  the  Democratic  candidates.  Otto  Mears  was  chosen 
as  the  messenger  to  convey  the  electoral  vote  to  Washington, 
CONGRESS. 

4tth  Congress—  J.  B.  Belford 13,686    T.  M.  Patterson 13,170 

45th         "        -  J.  B.  Belford 13,916    T.   M.  Patterson 12,849 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor-John  L.  Routt 14,154    Bela  M.  Hughes 12,316 

Lt-Gov.    —Lafayette  Head 14,191    Michael  Beshoar ....  13,093 

Secy  St'e-Wm.  M.  Clark 11,582    James  T.  Smith 12,843 

Auditor  — D.  C.  Crawford 14,117    Jas.  F.  Benedict 13,29') 

Treas.       — Geo.  C.  Corning 14,038    Thomas  M.  Field ....  13,310 

Atty  Gen— A.  J.Sampson 13.729    Geo.  Q.  Richmond. ..13,182 

Superintendent  of   Public  Instruction 

— J.  C.  Shattuck 14,304    J.  B.  Groesbeck 12,473 

Regents  of  the  University* 

— F.  J.  Ebert 24,412    Geo.  Tritch 26,128 

— Wm.  H.  Van  Giesen..,.25,108    Junius  Berkley 25,918 

— L.  W.  Dolloff 25,310    C.  Valdez 26,093 

JUDICIARY. 

Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 

— E.  T.  Wells 14,437 

— H.  C.  Thatcher 14,304 

— S.  H,  Elbert 14,153 

District  Judges 

1st  Dist.  — Wm.  E.  Beck 4181 

21      tk       —Victor  A.  Elliott 3748 

3d      "       — John  W.  Henry. 4161 

4th    ' '      —Thomas  M .  Bowen 2659 

District  Attorneys 

1st  Dist.  — E.  O.  Wolcott 4148 

2d      "      —D.B.Graham ,....3791 

3d      "      —Webster  Ballinger 3355 

4th    "      — C.  W.  Burris 2411 


Wilbur  F.  Stone 13,057 

E.  Wakeley 12,599 

Geo.  W.  Miller 12,959 

R.  S.  Morrison 3632 

Henry  A.  Clough .....  2820 

James  E.  Martin 3699 

A.  A.  Bradford 1504 

Platt  Rogers 3643 

Sam  P.  Rose 2901 

John  M.  Waldron 4421 

A.  T.  Gunnell 2057 


*Each  political  party  nominated  throe  candidates  and  the  six 
names  were  pi  ace  Jon  both  tickets. 


FIRST  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 


KEN  ATE. 

President  pro  tew.— Wm.  W.  Webster. 


Secretary—  Geo.  T.  Clark. 


1st  Dist.—  Silas  B.  A.  Haynes         9th  Dist.  -Eugene  Gaussoin 


.  2d  —Norman  H.  Meldrum  10th  " 

3d     1%     —James  P.  Maxwell  llth  " 

— F.  O.  Saunders  12th  '4 

4th    "     —Lewis  C.  Rockwell  13th  " 

5th    "     —  Wm.  W.  Webster  Uth  " 

6th    "     — Wm.  A.  Hamill  15th  " 

—Albert  Johnson  16th  " 

7th    "     — A.  H.  De  France  17th" 

8th    "     —Lewis  C.  Ellsworth 

—Alfred  Butters  18th  " 

—Joseph  E.  Bates  19th  " 

—Hiram  P.  Hennet  20th  " 


—Edwin  C.  Randall 
—James  F.  Gardner 
— James  Moynahan 
-J.  B.  Hall 
—James  Clclland 
-Isaac  W.  Hill 
— Wm.  B.  Hamilton 
—  Casimero  Barela 
—Daniel  L.  Taylor 
-Wm.  H.  Meyer 
—Juan  F.  Chacon 
— Henry  Henson 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Speaker— Webster  D.  Anthony.        Clerk— W.  B.  Felton. 


Arapahoe    — Wm.  H.  Pierce 
— W.  D.  Anthony 
— Adolph  Schhmer 
-Alfred  C.  Phelps 
— John  Me  Broom 
—Geo.  C.  Griffin 
— John  C.  Mayer 

Boulder        —Isaac  Canfield 

—George  X.  Young 
— Daniel  Ransom 
—A.  A.  Smith 

Clear  Creek — T.  F.  Simmons 
— T.  Jeff  Watts 
—George  A.  Patten 
—P.  E.  Morehouse 

Gilpin  — A.  C.  Marshman 

— H.  Jacob  Kruse 
—Henry  Wr.  Lake 

Las  Animas— Urbano  Chacon 
-David  F.  Wilkins 
— M.  Laragoite 

El  Paso        —Joseph  C.  Helm 
— C.  W.  Kittredge 

Fremont       — Chas,  R.  Seiber 
—Richard  Irwin 


Huerfano     —Jose  R.  Esquibel 
—Jose  T.  Chavez 

Jefferson      —Geo.  Rand 

—Martin  V.  Luther 

Pueblo          —James  N.  Carlile 
— G.  Langford 

Weld  —David  F.  Raney 

— Abner  Leonard 
— R.  M.  McMurray 
— Meliton  Alberts 


Bent 

Costilla 

Conejos  & 

Costilla 

Conejos 

Douglas 

Elbert 

Grand 

Hinsdale 

Larimer 

La  Plata 

Lake 

Park 


— D.  Archuleta 
-A.  M.  Vigil 
— Geo.  A.  Lord 
—A.  D.  Wilson 
—John  H.  Stokes 
— W.  H.  Green 
— N.  C.  Alford 
— John  Moss 
— W.  J.  McDermitli 
— Zeba  Surles 
Rio  Grande — Alva  Adams 
Summit        — Geo.  W.  Wilson 
Saguache     —Isaac  Gotthelf 
San  Juan     — C.  H.  Mclntire 


THE  }7ear  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hun- 
1  Q  /Q  dred  and  seventy-eight  was  by  no  means 
hopeful  for  either  party.  In  1877  the 
Republicans  of  Arapahoe  county,  by  an  unusu- 
ally vigorous  campaign  for  an  off  3rear,  succeed- 
ed in  consolidating  the  party  in  that  count}r,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  its  histor}r,  making  a  clean 
sweep,  the  office  of  coroner  alone  being  lost,  ow- 
ing to  the  indifference  of  the  nominee,  J.  J.  T.  Ball, 
and  the  efforts  of  his  competitor.  The  election 
of  treasurer  was  the  ke}^  to  the  situation,  and  for 
that  office  the  Democrats  had  selected  their 
strongest  man — J.  M.  Strickler,  who  was  defeated 
by  John  L.  Dailey.  Elsewhere  in  the  state  politi- 
cal honors  were  not  unevenl}^  divided,  and  it  was 
generally  acknowledged  that  the  political  status 
of  Colorado  had  not  been  definitely  ascertained. 

At  the  general  election  in  1877,  Wilbur  F.  Stone 
was  elected  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  to  fill 
the  vacancy  created  by  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Wells.  Both  parties  united  in  his  support,  it  be- 
ing at  that  time  thought  best  to  eliminate  parti- 
sanship from  this  office  if  possible.  Judge  Stone 
received  22,047  votes  to  295  scattering.  At  the 
same  election  the  question  of  woman's  suffrage 
was  submitted  to  the  people  and  rejected  by  a 
vote  of  14,053  to  6612. 

The  Democrats  looked  forward  to  the  cam- 
paign of  1878  with  confidence,  while,  if  the  Re- 
publicans were  determined,  they  were  somewhat 


30  REPUBLICANS  DISCOURAGED 


distrustful  of  their  abilit}^  to  overcome  the  odds 
against  them.  The  part}'  south  of  the  divide  had 
expected  one  of  the  senators  to  be  taken  from 
that  section,  and  were  not  only  disappointed  but 
inclined  to  threaten  vengeance.  The  Democrats 
entered  into  the  canvass  with  their  strongest 
men  —  Loveland  and  Patterson—  backed  b}r  the 
Union  Pacific  and  an  unlimited  barrel.  The 
Democratic  congressional  committee  regarded 
Colorado  as  a  hopeful  field  and  gave  efficient  aid 
to  the  Democratic  campaign,  while  the  Republi- 
can congressional  committee  seemed  to  agree 
with  the  conclusions  of  its  opponent  regarding 
Colorado,  and  being  unable  to  see  the  result  in 
this  state  through  the  spectacles  of  hope,  was 
lukewarm,  if  not  absolute!}*  indifferent,  contribut- 
ing not  a  cent  to  the  expenses  of  the  campaign. 
Mr.  Loveland,  the  sole  Democratic  aspirant  for 
gubernatorial  honors,  was  at  that  time  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  in  the  state.  From  a  long 
and  bitter  fight  with  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad 
Company  he  had  emerged  on  top,  had  consolida- 
ted the  Colorado  Central  with  that  compan3r,  had 
been  chosen  a  director  of  the  Union  Pacific  and 
\vas  regarded  as  the  coming  railwa}-  magnate  of 
Colorado.  To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  the  Re- 
publican situation,  Senator  Chaffee,  whose  re- 
election to  the  senate  was  confidently  expected, 
was  deeplj"  involved  in  mining  enterprises,  and 
was  in  poor  health  —  suffering  from  the  first  ap- 
proaches of  the  terrible  disease  which  eight 
years  later  caused  his  death  —  and  on  June  7  the 
publication  of  the  following  letter  announced  his 


CHAFFEE'vS     WITHDRAWAL  31 

withdrawal   from   the   harassments    inseparable 
from  active  political  life. 

NEW  YORK,  May  30,  1878. 
Hon     IV.  H.    Pierce,    Chairman   Republican  State  Coin 

mittee : 

SIR:  I  desire  to  make  known  to  the  Republi- 
cans of  the  state,  through  }rou,  that  I  cannot  be 
a  candidate  for  re-election  to  the  United  States 
Senate.  My  health  will  not  permit  me  to  take  any 
active  part  in  the  ensuing  canvass  of  the  state, 
and  I  have  concluded  that  the  time  long-  sought 
for  by  me  for  retiring  from  politics  has  arrived. 
I  now  gladly  avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of 
making  public  this  decision.  I  am  sensibly  im- 
pressed with  the  uniform  kindness  and  generosi- 
ty of  my  friends  and  party  in  times  past.  I  have 
always  been  generously  sustained  by  the  people 
of  the  territory  and  state,  for  which  I  shall  al- 
ways be  grateful  beyond  the  po  ver  of  words  to 
express.  It  is  better  to  leave  my  record  to  the 
public,  but  I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned  in  saying 
that  my  aim  has  alwa}^s  been  for  the  public  good 
I  beg  of  my  friends  to  believe  that  I  have  not  come 
to  this  conclusion  hastily.  It  has  long  been  my 
wish  to  retire  from  political  life,  and  I  would 
have  done  so  upon  the  admission  of  the  state  in- 
to the  Union,  except  that  the  political  situation 
at  that  time  seemed  to  demand  the  utmost  exer- 
tion of  all  true  patriots.  Hoping  the  Republican 
party  may  continue  successful  in  the  state  and 
country,  I  am,  very  truly 

Your  Obedient  Servant, 

JEROME  B.  CHAFFEE. 


32  REPUBLICANS  FEEL  BLUE, 

The  effect  of  this  letter  upon  the  party  cart 
hardly  be  realized  at  this  time.  There  did  not 
seem  to  be  a  man  in  the  part}r  who  could  take  the 
place  of  Mr.  Chaffee.  Without  money  or  appa- 
rent resources,  the  retirement  of  its  acknowledg- 
ed leader  seemed  to  be  fatal  to  the  success  of  the 
part}-.  It  became  the  fashion  later  on  for  a  cer- 
class  of  politicians  to  refer  to  Mr.  Chaffee  as  a 
"boss,"  but  surely  no  more  emphatic  denial  of 
that  charge  is  necessary  than  the  above  letter. 
There  was  not  the  slightest  taint  of  bossism  in 
Mr.  Chaffee'ri  political  character.  His  leadership 
was  due  entirety  to  the  fact  that  he  consulted 
freely  with  members  of  the  party,  and  spared 
neither  time  nor  money  in  carrying  out  the  wish- 
es of  the  majority,  very  often  against  his  own 
judgment.  The  seeds  of  the  dissensions  which 
have  frequently  since  torn  the  Republican  party 
in  Colorado  were  sown  in  1878,  but,  as  will  be 
shown  farther  on,  and  can  be  proved  by  docu- 
ments still  extant,  Mr.  Chaffee  was  in  no  way  re- 
sponsible. Much  of  the  trouble  was  occasioned 
by  some  of  his  warmrbut  indiscreet  friends,  who 
refused  to  accept  his  letter  as  final  and  denounced 
measures  afterward  taken,  in  accordance  with  his 
own  wishes,  and  to  insure  the  success  of  the  par- 
ty, as  treachery  to  him, 

Mr.  Wilson,  chairman  of  the  Republican  state 
committee  in  1876,  had  resigned  upon  receiving 
the  appointment  of  collector  of  internal  revenue, 
and  Mr.  W.  H.  Pierce  had  been  chosen  to  succeed 
him.  Mr.  Bj^ers,  proprietor  of  the  News,  had  sold 
his  paper  to  K.  G.  Cooper  and  W.  B.  Vickers,  and 


TABOR   PREDICTS    VICTORY  33 

it  was  an  open  secret  that  the  Democrats  were 
in  negotiation  for  that  paper.  The  Tribune  had 
been  the  organ  of  the  u  carpet-baggers "  in 
1874,  and  though  Henr}^  C.  Brown,  earl}'  in  1876, 
had  sold  the  paper  to  Herman  Beckurts,  who 
was  striving  earnestly  to  put  his  paper  in  line 
with  the  majorit}^  of  his  party,  it  was  felt  that  the 
loss  of  the  i\ews  would  be  a  serious  detriment  to 
the  party.  But  nothing  could  be  done,  and  short- 
ly before  the  meeting  of  the  Republican  state  con- 
vention the  paper  was  sold  to  Mr.  Loveland,  and 
James  T.  Smith  was  installed  as  editor. 

No  worse  condition  of  affairs  could  be  imag- 
ined, and  the  meeting  of  the  Republican  state 
committee  was  anxiousl}'  looked  forward  to  as 
likel}7  to  afford  a  solution  of  the  difficulties.  The 
committee  met  on  June  12.  The  chairman  had 
requested  the  members  to  come  prepared  to  give 
as  nearly  as  possible  the  political  condition  of 
their  respective  counties.  As  each  member  gave 
his  report,  and  the  reasons  for  his  opinion,  the 
first  ray  of  light  broke.  Mr.  Tabor  made  his  first 
entry  into  state  politics  at  this  meeting,  and  en- 
thusiasticalty  promised  Lake  county  to  the  Re- 
publicans. A  summing  up  of  the  situation 
showed  that  while  it  was  grave  it  was  \yy  no 
means  hopeless,  and  when  the  committee  ad- 
journed, after  appointing  August  7  as  the  date 
for  holding  the  convention,  it  was  with  the  feel- 
ing that  the  united  efforts  of  the  Republican  par- 
\y  would  result  in  victor}^. 

During  the  summer  of  1878  Leadville  came  in- 
to vigorous  being,  and  became  an  important  fac- 


LOOKING  FOR   CAXDIDATEvS 

tor  in  the  politics  of  the  state.  The  necessity  for 
absolute  party  unity  to  insure  success  led  to  the 
discussion  of  candidates  long-  prior  to  the  meet- 
ing- of  the  convention.  The  southern  portion  of 
the  state  still  claimed  the  right  to  name  one  of 
the  senators,  and  since  the  enormous  increase  of 
population  in  Lake  count}'  was  more  persistent 
than  ever  in  its  demands.  But  it  presented  no 
one  capable  of  filling  the  place  vacated  by  Sena- 
tor Chaffee.  For  governor,  however,  a  name  came 
from  the  south  which,  though  comparatively  un- 
known, rapidly  grew  into  public  favor.  Frederick 
\V.  Pitkin  had  been  but  a  short  time  in  the  state. 
After  a  brief  sojourn  in  Colorado  Springs  he  had 
become  interested  in  mining1  enterprises  in  Ouray 
and  had  removed  to  that  town,  where  he  had  many 
firm  friends.  A  refined,  honorable  gentleman, 
a  good  lawyer,  and  a  stanch  Republican,  to  meet 
him  was  to  become  impressed  with  his  good 
qualities,  and  it  is  therefoie  not  surprising  that 
before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  it  was  gen- 
erally conceded  that  if  Pitkin  could  secure  the 
support  of  the  southern  delegates  he  would  be- 
come the  nominee. 

For  Senator,  Mr.  X.  P.  Hill  was  spoken  of.  Mr. 
Hill  was  a  chemist  of  fine  reputation,  had  been  a 
professor  in  an  eastern  college,  and  had  estab- 
lished the  smelting  works  at  Hlackhawk  several 
3'ears  before.  He  had  become  wealthy,  was  an 
earnest  Republican,  and  his  candidacy  was  re- 
garded with  favor  by  all  except  a  few  of  the 
warm  friends  of  Mr.  Chaffee,  who  could  not  bring 
themselves  to  bear  with  equanimity  the  unquali- 


HILL  *AOK   THE  SENATE  35 

fied  withdrawal  from  political  life  of  their  be- 
loved chief. 

For  congressional  honors  Mr.  Bel  ford's  nomi- 
nation was  conceded.  By  a  large  majority  of  the 
Republican  part}^  it  was  thought  that  he  had 
been  unj natty  deprived  of  his  seat  in  the  45th 
congress,  and  that  he  was  therefore  entitled  to  a 
renomination.  As  a  speaker  he  was  at  that  time 
almost  without  a  rival  in  the  state,  and  to  add 
to  his  chances,  Mr.  Patterson,  who  was  to  be 
his  competitor,  had,  during-  the  discussion  of  the 
financial  question  in  congress,  shown  a  decided 
leaning  toward  the  greenback  theories  of  finance, 
which  weakened  him  very  materialty  with  the 
people  of  Colorado. 

In  June  1878  K.  O.  Wolcott  was  practising  law 
in  Georgetown.  His  office  was  in  a  little  cottage 
opposite  the  Barker  House.  Wolcott  and  Win. 
A.  Hamill  \vere  very  intimate,  socialty  and  po- 
litically, and  sustained  cordial  business  relations 
with  each  other.  On  the  arrival  in  Georgetown 
of  the  Denver  Times  of  June  7,  containing  the  let- 
ter of  Senator  Chaffee,  heretofore  quoted,  General 
Mamill  immediatety  called  at  Wolcott's  office 
and  suggested  that  Professor  Hill  would  make  an 
available  candidate  for  the  succession.  H.  R> 
Wolcott  was  then  associated  in  business  with 
Professor  Hill,  and  E.  O.  Wolcott  immediately 
went  to  Blackhawk  to  consult  his  brother.  The 
result  of  his  mission  was  that  shortly  afterward 
Professor  Hill  visited  General  Hamill  at  George- 
town. During  this  conference  the  situation  was 
"thoroughly  discussed,  and  after  a  careful  and 


36  BOTH   PAKTJES   NOMINATE 

critical  canvass  of  Mr.  Hill's  chances  throughout 
the  state.  Professor  Hill  ag-reecl  that  if  Hamill 
would  take  the  chairmanship  of  the  state  com- 
mittee he  would  become  a  candidate  for  the  Unit- 
ed States  Senate. 

The  state  convention  of  the  Democrats  was 
held  at  Manitou  on  Jul}-  18,  that  party  being-  so 
confident  of  success  that  it  departed  from  its 
usual  custom  of  waiting  for  the  Republican 
nominations  in  order  to  profit  by  the  errors  of  its 
antagonists.  Mr.  Lovelantl  for  governor  and  Mr. 
Patterson  for  congress  \vere  nominated  b}^  accla- 
mation. Nelson  Ilallock.of  Lake  countjT,  receiv- 
ing the  nomination  for  state  treasurer  as  an  in- 
ducement for  the  Leadville  vote. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Republican  convention 
on  August  7,  public  opinion  had  become  so  tho- 
roughly crystallized  that  there  was  no  contest 
for  the  gubernatorial  and  congressional  nomina- 
tions, and  IMtkin  and  Helford  were  chosen  by  ac- 
clamation. H.  A.  AY.  Tabor  was  nominated  for 
lieutenant-governor  as  a  representative  of  Lake 
county,  which  at  that  time  polled  not  less  than 
one-third  of  the  entire  vote  of  the  state,  it  being- 
hoped  that  he  could  carr}T  that  count}'.  In  ac- 
cordance with  the  plan  arranged  between  Hill 
and  Hamill  in  the  conference  at  Georgetown,  the 
latter  was  selected  as  the  chairman  of  the  state 
committee. 

In  the  same  line  Kd  Wolcott  received  the  nom- 
ination for  the  state  senate  in  Clear  Creek,  and 
his  brother  Henr}^  the  senatorial  nomination  in 
Gilpin  county,  running  against  Dennis  Sullivan, 


A    QUADRILATERAL  CONFERENCE  37 

then  very  strong-  in  Gil  pin  county. 

The  campaign  thus  inaugurated  was  one  of 
the  fiercest  ever  contested  in  Colorado,  and  was 
productive  of  more  vituperation,  billingsgate  and 
g'eneral  nastiness  than  has  ever  been  crowded  in- 
to a  single  campaign  since. 

Prior  to  the  election,  having  partially  recov- 
ered from  his  recent  illness,  Senator  Chaffee  re- 
turned from  the  east,  his  presence  giving  rise  to 
the  rumor  that  he  was  desirous  of  retracting  his 
letter  of  withdrawal  from  politics.  As  such  a 
determination  would  seriously  complicate  the 
relations  between  General  Hamill  and  Mr.  Hill, 
the  chairman  invited  Senators  Chaffee  and  Teller 
and  Professor  Hill  to  meet  him  for  the  purpose 
of  discussing  the  senatorial  situation.  The  con- 
ference was  held  in  a  private  room  at  Walhalla, 
corner  16th  and  Curtis  streets.  At  that  meeting- 
General  Hamill  put  the  question  squarely  to  the 
two  senators:  "Are  you  gentlemen  thoroughly 
satisfied  with  Professor  Hill  as  a  senator  "from 
Colorado?"  Both  senators  replied  in  the  afrirm- 
tive,  and  it  was  formally  agreed  upon  by  the  four 
gentlemen  that  nothing  should  be  allowed  to  in- 
terfere with  the  election  of  Professor  Hill  in  the 
event  of  Republican  success. 

During  the  closing  hours  of  the  Republican 
convention  a  message  had  been  received  from 
Mr.  Patterson  challenging  Belford  to  a  joint  de- 
bate upon  the  issues  between  the  two  parties,  the 
canvass  of  the  state  to  be  made  jointly.  The 
challenge  was  promptly  accepted,  the  two  candi- 
dates made  the  tour  of  the  state  together,  and  an 


38  REPUBLICANS  EXPECT   DEFEAT 

enthusiasm    was  created    which    penetrated   the 
most  insignificant  hamlet  in  Colorado. 

As  the  campaign  progressed  the  hopes  of  the 
Republicans  became  slighter.  Chaffee  himself, 
all  through  the  campaign,  contended  that  the 
Democracy  would  carry  the  state.  It  became  the 
habit  of  a  number  of  prominent  Republicans  to 
come  every  night  to  Walhalla  and  figure  that 
Hamill  would  lose  the  state  by  from  seven  to 
eight  hundred. 

Amid  all  these  dismal  forebodings  Hamill 
alone  maintained  a  cheerful  faith  in  the  result. 
A  thorough  canvass  had  been  made  of  the  entire 
state,  and  from  the  reports  received  the  chair- 
man was  reasonably  positive  that  the  Republi- 
cans would  carry  the  state  by  from  1300  to  2000 
majority. 

The  Democrats  Were  correspondingly  jubi- 
lant. From  ever}'  standpoint  their  victor}^  seemed 
assured,  and  their  efforts  were  redoubled  to  win 
the  state  by  such  a  majority  as  would  put  the 
state  squafel}r  into  the  lines  of  the  Democracy, 
They  had  plent}*  of  money,  and  were  backed  by 
unlimited  drafts  upon  the  transportation  facili- 
ties of  the  Union  Pacific  railroad.  There  could 
hardly  be  found  a  Democrat  of  the  slightest 
prominence  in  his  party  counsels  who  was  not 
provided  with  Union  Pacific  passes.  The  charge 
was  made  during  the  campaign  that  Professor 
Hill  had  introduced  the  barrel  argument  into  the 
canvass,  but  whatever  efforts  were  made  in  that 
direction  on  the  Republican  side  were  liberally 
discounted  by  their  opponents.  The  fact  is  that 


REPUBLICANS   WIN  39 

the  total  amount  of  the  contributions  to  the  fund 
of  the  state  commit  tea  amounted  to  but  $50  D,  of 
which  Senator  Hill  gave  $2)00.  Senator  Chaffee 
contributed  a  small  amount,  and  the  candidates 
according-  to  their  ability.  After  Senator  Hill 
was  elected  he  took  up  an  overdraft  of  the  com- 
mittee in  the  first  National  Bank,  and  during-  the 
canvass  he  contributed  to  the  Republican  com- 
mittees of  several  of  the  counties  of  the  state. 
Whatever  else  was  necessary  came  from  the  pri- 
vate funds  of  the  chairman,  and  the  total  amount 
of  the  contributions  was  much  less  than  ha3 
since  been  expended  in  a  single  primary  election 
in  Arapahoe  county. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  campaign  the  Demo- 
crats appeared  to  be  in  high  feather.  They  felt 
that  they  had  the  pole  in  the  race,  and  freely  of- 
fered bets  that  the}r  would  elect  the  state  ticket 
and  a  majority  of  the  legislature.  During  the 
last  week  of  the  canvass,  however,  Messrs.  Ham- 
ill  and  Chaffee  posted  a  standing  offer  to  bet 
from  one  thousand  to  twenty  thousand  dollars 
that  the  entire  Republican  state  ticket  would  be 
elected,  and  also  a  Republican  majority  of  the 
legislature.  Democratic  confidence  was  not  suf- 
ficiently strong  to  inspire  them  with  the  courage 
to  accept  this  offer. 

The  event  justified  the  confidence  of  Mr.  Ham- 
ill,  and  was  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  effectiveness 
of  his  work.  On  election  day  the  sun  went  down 
on  a  decisive  Republican  victory — a  victory 
which  at  once  and  effectually  settled  the  question 
of  partisan  supremacy  in  Colorado.  No  Demo- 


40  SENATORIAL 

crat  has  since  had  the  hardihood  to  claim  Colo- 
rado as  a  Democratic  state.  Pitkin  received  2773 
plurality,  Belford  2291,  and  out  of  the  02  members 
of  the  legislature  elected  46  were  Republicans,  14 
Democrats,  1  Greenbacker,  and  1  Independent. 

Before  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  there 
was  considerable  talk  about  Mr.  Chaffee  in  con- 
nection with  the  senatorship,  but  not  one  word 
authorized  by  Mr.  Teller  himself.  He  was  in 
Washington  and  repeatedly  wrote  and  stated 
verbally  to  his  friends  that  he  was  out  of  politics, 
that  his  health  was  too  precarious  "to  permit  him 
to  again  enter  into  active  political  life,  and  that 
nothing  would  induce  him  to  enter  as  a  candi- 
date for  his  own  succession.  It  seemed  to  be  un- 
derstood, however,  that  if  it  should  prove  for  the 
interest  of  the  part}-,  and  it  became  apparent  that 
he  alone  could  be  elected,  he  would  consent,  and 
on  this  slender  foundation  a  few  of  his  friends  in 
Denver  kept  him  in  the  race,  regardless  of  his 
own  and  Mr.  Teller's  consent  to  Hill's  candidacy, 
regardless  of  his  expressed  wishes,  regardless  of 
his  failing  health. 

During  the  prelim inar}^  skirmish  for  the  sen- 
atorship some  sharp  passages  occurred  between 
Messrs.  Chaffee  and  Teller  on  the  one  side,  and 
Mr.  Hill  on  the  other.  These  were  the  direct  re- 
sult of  indiscreet  and  heated  utterances  by  some 
of  Mr.  Chaffee's  friends,  and  in  no  way  affected 
the  fact  that  Chaffee  had  voluntarily  retired  from 
the  canvass,  and  that  Hill  was  in  it  by  the  con- 
sent of  both  senators.  Prior  to  the  caucus  a  few 
of  Mr,  Chaffee's  friends  held  a  meeting  in  which 


OPPOSITITIOX   TO    HILL  41 

they  endeavored  to  formulate  a  plan  for  forcing- 
Mr.  Chaffee  into  the  field  as  an  active  candidate, 
an  effort  which  met  with  decided  failure.  These 
efforts,  mainl3r  directed  against  the  candidacy  of 
Professor  Hill,  finally  provoked  that  gentleman 
into  the  publication  of  the  following-  private  let- 
ter from  Senator  Chaffee: 

SARATOGA,  ]uly  8, 1878. 
Hon.  N.  P.  Hill: 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  Yours  of  the  second  is  received. 
I  hope  j^ou  will  be  a  candidate  for  the  senate,  al- 
though I  cannot  promise  you  any  help  individu- 
ally,  as  I  shall  not  be  on  the  ground  during-  the 
contest. 

I  don't  think  there  is  any  doubt  of  the  success 
of  the  Republican  legislative  ticket.  We  have 
five  majority  to  start  with,  and  had  a  two-thirds 
majority  before.  There  will  doubtless  be  several 
candidates  from  the  south,  and  the}^  will  quite 
likely  eat  each  other  up  as  the}7  did  before,  so 
that  I  think  your  chances  would  be  good.  So  far 
as  I  am  concerned  I  do  not  intend  to  interfere,  or 
take  any  active  part  in  politics  hereafter,  sick  or 
well.  It  was  not  my  health  altogether,  which  in- 
duced me  to  retire  from  politics.  1  never  took 
any  pleasure  or  satisfaction  in  the  business,  and 
have  long  wished  to  g*et  out,  and  now  is  a  good 
time,  and  I  have  a  good  excuse.  I  have  been  a 
slave  long  enough,  and  now  I  propose  to  use 
what  little  time  I  have  left  for  myself.  I  never 
appreciated  the  honor  or  fame  of  position  like 
some  people. 

The  United  States  senate  is  a  high    position, 


4'2  CHAFFEE   TO   HILL 

l)ut  I  would  not  accept  it  for  life  if  offered.  I 
would  be  ver3r  greatly  pleased  to  see  you  in  that 
place  for  personal  reasons,  and  for  public  reasons. 
Penver  ought  to  have  a  friend  there  just  now, 
while  these  railroad  changes  are  going-  on.  I 
shall  be  in  Colorado,  I  think,  in  about  a  month, 
but,  perhaps,  shall  go  to  California  very  soon 
after.  I  am  well,  with  the  exception  of  some 
inflammation  of  the  bladder,  which  is  being 
overcome  gradu;  lly,  but  I  shall  not  take  any 
active  part  in  the  coming  campaign.  I  think 
a  great* mam-  of  my  friends  would  be  3'ours 
if  you  are  a  candidate,  probably  a  large  ma- 
jority of  them.  F  do  not  know  of  anybody  in 
the  north  that  would  stand  in  your  way.  I  duly 
appreciate  your  friendship  to  me  in  days  gone 
by,  and  my  nature  is  not  to  return  evil  for  good. 

Hoping  you  may  succeed  in  whatever  3^011  un- 
dertake, I  am 

Very  Trul \-  Yours, 

J.  B.  CHAFFEE. 

The  publication  of  this  letter  anno3red  Sena- 
tor Chaff ee  exceeding^;,  and  led  to  his  making- 
certain  statements  in  regard  to  Senator  Hill 
which  were  productive  of  much  hard  feeling  be- 
tween the  two  gentlemen,  and  proved  to  be  the 
entering  wedge  which  caused  much  of  the  dis- 
sensions of  the  future. 

When  the  legislature  assembled  it  was  found 
that  Chilcott,  Elbert,  Bo  wen,  Jackson,  Routt  and 
Bromwell  were  all  in  the  race, encouraged  b3r  the 
opportune  offered  by  Chaffee's  retirement.  Mr 
e  haffee's  name  was  used  in  the  caucus,  notwith- 


MR.   HILL   NOMINATED.  4i$ 

standing  his  withdrawal,  as  shown  }>y  the  two 
letters  published,  and  without  any  positive  au- 
thorit}^  from  -any  one  authorized  to  represent  him. 
He  had  not  only  decided  to  retire  from  politics, 
but  had  so  stated  to  most  of  the  nine  Republican 
hold-over  senators,  in  some  instances  requesting 
them  to  vote  for  Hill.  Had  this  not  been  the  case 
several  of  those  who  voted  for  Hill  would  have 
undoubtedly  voted  for  Chaffee.  Mr.  Chaffee 
might  have  been  elected  had  he  so  desired,  but 
he  did  not  want  an  election  and  asked  no  one  to 
support  him. 

Upon  the  opening-  of  the  session  Mr.  Hill 
opened  headquarters  at  Charpiot's,  and  Governor 
Routt  at  the  Grand  Central— now  the  Markham  — 
hotel.  A  great  deal  of  talk  was  indulged  in,  most 
of  it  by  the  newspapers,  and  a  series  of  spic}'  in- 
terviews, real  or  pretended,  which  appeared  in 
the  News  from  the  pen  of  M.  J.  Gavisk,  then  city 
editor  of  that  paper,  and  afterward  Governor 
Pitkin's  private  secretar}^  kept  public  curiosity 
excited,  and  formed  a  basis  for  lively  guessing 
among  the"  outsiders.  But  the  fierce  struggle 
predicted  existed  mainly  in  the  imagination  of 
the  \vriter,  and  of  a  few  members  of  assembly. 
Mr.  Hill  was  assured  of  election  from  the  first 
day  of  the  session.  The  several  candidates  had 
their  friends,  but  none  had  the  following-  of  Mr. 
Hill,  and  he  was  the  second  choice  of  too  many, 
and  there  were  too  many  candidates  to  occasion 
either  a  very  long  or  a  ver}^  fierce  struggle.  Of 
the  53  votes  in  the  Republican  caucus  which  met 
at  Walhalla  on  Januar\-  9,  Mr.  Hill  received  21  on 


44  HILL  ELECTED 

the  first,  25  on  the  second,  25  on  the  third,  26  on 
the  fourth,  and  32  on  the  5th  ballot. 

Mr.  Hill  was  elected  to  the  senate  on  the  loth, 
receiving-  53  votes  to  19  for  Mr.  Lovelandthe  Demo- 
cratic candidate.  It  is  seventeen  years  since  that 
election,  and  time  has  healed  many  of  the  ani- 
mosities then  excited.  It  will  now  be  conceded 
that  Mr.  Hill  went  into  the  Senate  with  the  best 
wishes  of  a  majority  of  the  Republican  part}T. 
It  is  time  that  the  misunderstanding's  that  have 
so  long  existed  relative  to  his  candidacy  should 
be  removed. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1878. 
CONGRESS 

46th  Congress -J.  B.  Belford 14,294    T.  M.  Patterson 12,003 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— F.  W.  Pitkin 14,303    W.  A.  H.  Loveland... 11,535 

Lt-Gov.    -H.  A.  W.  Tabor 13,891    Thomas  M.  Field ....  11,968 

Secy  St'e-N.  H.  Meidrum 14,165    John  S.  Wheeler 11,734 

Treas.       —  N.  S.  Culver 14,141    Nelson  Hallock 11,843 

Auditor  — E    K.  Stimson 14,240    J.  H.  Harrison. 11,752 

Atty  Gen-C.W.Wright.... 14,461    Caldwell  Yeaman....  11,571 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

— J.  C.  Shattuck 13,972    O.  J.  Goldrick 11,894 

Regents  of  the  University* 

—Horace  M.  Hale 28,330    Junius  Berkley 25,462 

SECOND  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 

President  pro  tern.—  James  P.  Maxwell. 


Secretary-W.  W.  Orrick. 


1st  Dist. — Silas  B.  A.  Haynes         9th  Dist. — Eugene  Gaussoin 


2d     " 

—  L.  R,  Rhodes 

10th  " 

—  Joseph  C.  Helm 

3d     " 

—James  P.  Maxwell 

llth  " 

—  James  F.  Gardner 

—  Henry  Neikirk 

12th  " 

—  Assyria  Hall 

4th    " 

—  H.  R.  Wolcott 

13th  " 

-J.  B.  Hall 

5th    " 

—  Wm.  W.  Webster 

14th  " 

—Thomas  C.  Parrish 

6th    " 

—  Albert  Johnson 

15th  " 

—Isaac  W.  Hill 

—  E.  O.  Wolcott 

16th  " 

—  Clemente  Trujillo 

7th    " 

—A.  H.  De  France 

17th  " 

—  Casimero  Barela 

8th    " 

—  Lewis  C.  Ellsworth 

—James  M.  John 

—  Alfred  Butters 

18th  " 

—Juan  A.  Baca 

—  M.  A.  Rogers 

19th  " 

—  Juan  F.  Chacon 

—Frank  Church 

20th  " 

—Fred  C.  Peck 

HOUSE  OP  REPRESENTATIVES. 

Speaker— Rienzi  Streeter.    Clerk— W.  B.  Felton. 
Arapahoe     — H.  P.  H.  Bromwell      Gilpin       —Richard  Harvey 


—Robert  S.  Roe 
— W.  D.  Todd 
— R.  A.  South  worth 
— B.  K.  Kimberly 
—  Herman  E.  Luthe 
-C.  C.  Gird 


— Jas.  McD.  Livesay 
—William  J.  Lewis 

Grand  & 

Routt        — James  H.  Crawford 

Gunnison  & 

Lake          — Jos.  Hutchinson 


*Each  party  nominated  one  candidate  for  regent,  whose  name 
was  printed  on  both  tickets. 


SECOND    GENERAL   ASSEMBLE 


Bent 
Boulder 


Costilla 
Conejos  & 
Costilla 
Clear  Creek 


Conejos 
Ouster  & 
Fremont 

Douglas 

Elbert 

ElPaso 


—Frank  Bingham 
— \Vm.  Mann 
— Rienzi  Streeter 
-William  Scott 
-J.  G.  Evans 
—Ramon  Trujillo 

-Joseph  Hoffman 
-William  Spruance 
— M.  O.  Coddington 
-Thomas  J.  Cantlon 
-Henry  Slockett 
-Juan  B.  Lovato 

-Wm.  McLaughlin 
-Jas.  A.  McCandless 
-M.  D.  Moorehead 
-Henry  Gebhard 
-Ivory  Phillips 
—Robert  Douglas 


Hinsdale  —A.  T.  Gunnell 
Huerfano — Yincente  Maez 

— Ramon  M  Y  Yaldez 
Jefferson  — J.  G.  Pease 

—Joseph  Mann 
La  Plata  — D.  L.  Sheets 
Larimer  — Lucas  Brandt 
Las  Animas— Julius  H.  Clark 

— J.  B.  Martinez 

— Benito  Cordova 
Park          —  Judson  T.  Flower 
Pueblo      — Geo.  M.  Chilcott 

— J.  J.  Thomas 
Rio  Grande— Chas.  H.  Toll 
Saguache — Isaac  Gotthelf 
San  Juan  & 

Ouray        —  J.  H.  P.  Voorhieh 
Summit    — W.  R.  Bartlett 
Wold          — J.  L.  Brush 

— Lorin  C.  Mead 


THE  campaign  of  1880  opened  with  the 
RePublican  party  assured  of  the  first 
place  in  the  affections  of  the  people  of 
Colorado.  The  administration  of  Governor  Pit- 
kin  had  been,  if  not  absolutely  faultless,  of  so 
high  a  standard  that  it  had  strengthened  the  par- 
ty immeasurably.  Pitkin's  weakness  was  his 
gentle  disposition— a  failing  which  so  frequently 
exposes  those  in  high  places  to  the  machinations 
of  the  crafty  and  the  bulging  of  the  demagogue, 
more  intent  upon  personal  aggrandisement  than 
upon  the  welfare  of  the  people  vhom  he  wishes 
to  serve — and  yet  this  very  weakness  endeared 
him,  not-onl3^to  the  people,  but  even  to  those 
who  had  most  reason  to  complain  of  his  cautious- 
ness and  apparent  lack  of  decision.  No  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  the  state  has. ever  had  so  large  a  cote- 
rie of  devoted  personal  friends.  Even  those  who 
most  unsparingly  condemned  what  they  termed 
his  lack  of  force  in  dealing  \vith  the  perplexing 
questions  which  arose  during  his  administration, 
were  his  stanchest  adherents  because  they  real- 
ized that  he  was  honest,  safe,  and  reliable.  Thir- 
teen years  have  elapsed  since  his  retirement 
from  office,  and  today  there  are  few  if  any  who 
will  not  accord  him  the  merit  of  sincerity  and 
faithfulness  to  the  trust  imposed  upon  him,  and 
of  having  so  conducted  the  affairs  of  state  as  to 
consolidate  the  Republican  party  and  secure  for 


48  A  PRESIDENTIAL  CONTEST 

it  all  the  fruits  of  victory  to  which  it  was  entitled. 

Governor  Pitkin  was  a  candidate  for  renomi- 
nation,  and  did  not  conceal  his  ambition  to  rep- 
resent Colorado  in  the  United  States  senate.  The 
mineral  discoveries  in  Lake  county  and  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  state  had  more  than  doubled  the 
population  of  the  state.  Denver  had  trebled  in 
size  during*  the  decade,  and  began  to  assume  that 
political  preponderance  which  it  has  since  main- 
tained, and  which  its  internal  dissensions  have 
caused  it  to  uniformly  throw  away.  The  increase 
of  population  had  infused  a  ray  of  hope  into 
Democratic  ambition,  upon  the  presumption  that 
a  majority  of  the  newcomers  was  of  that  politi- 
cal faith.  It  was  a  presidential  year,  and  it  was 
evident  that  a  more  than  ordinarily  spirited 
struggle  for  delegates  to  the  Republican  national 
convention  would  take  place.  Governor  Routt, 
whose  ambition  was  to  fill  a  cabinet  position, 
headed  the  friends  of  General  Grant,  while  Gene- 
ral Hainill  sought  to  carr}7  the  state  for  Blaine. 
Routt,  by  his  fortunate  strike  in  the  great  Morn- 
ing Star  mine  at  Leadville,  had  become  one  of 
the  wealthy  men  of  the  state,  and  threw  himself 
into  the  canvass  for  Grant  with  all  the  ardor  of 
an  old  friend  and  a  possible  cabinet  minister, 
while  Hainill  used  the  prestige  afforded  him  by 
the  brilliant  campaign  of  1878  with  such  energy 
that  until  the  convention  met  there  was  no  pos.si- 
bilit}7-  of  forecasting  the  event. 

The  convention  for  the  selection  of  delegates 
to  the  Republican  national  convention  met  in 
Denver,  at  Walhalla,  corner  of  Kith  and  Curtis 


GRANT   WlNvS   THE   DELEGATES  49 

streets,  on  Ma}^  25,  with  a  decided  majority  for 
Grant,  but  with  a  minorit}^  so  vigorous,  aggi  es- 
sive  and  warlike  that  only  the  earnest  devotion 
to  his  party  and  the  cool  head  of  its  leader  pre- 
vented ninet}"  or  more  delegates  from  seceding 
from  the  convention,  organizing  a  convention  of 
their  own,  and  sending  a  contesting  delegation 
to  Chicago.  The  convention  was  tossed  to  and 
fro  on  the  waves  of  personal  preference,  and  a 
serious  split  in  the  part}7-  was  imminent.  'A  cau- 
cus of  the  delegates  favorable  to  Grant  was  held, 
and  to  this  caucus  General  Ha  mill  and  a  few  of 
his  friends  demanded  and  we^e  refused  admis- 
sion. The}-  retired  breathing  vengeance,  and 
when  the  convention  reassembled  it  seemed  al- 
most impossible  to  prevent  the  threatened  break. 
A  committee  on  resolutions  was  appointed,  of 
which  Routt  and  Hamill  were  members,  and  the 
convention  awaited  the  issue  with  anxious  ex- 
pectanc}^.  Meantime  a  delegate  from  Lake,  ap- 
prehensive of  the  danger  to  the  part}',  had  pre- 
pared a  resolution  according  his  full  meed  of 
praise  to  the  "  Plumed  Knight,"  and  just  as  the 
committee  was  about  to  retire  thrust  it  into  the 
hands  of  Governor  Routt.  When  the  resolution 
was  read  in  the  committee  Hamill  announced 
that  if  the  convention  should  adopt  it  the  friends 
of  Blaine  would  remain  in  the  convention  and 
abide  by  the  result.  The  resolution  was  adopted 
and  the  most  serious  split  that  had  as  yet  threat- 
ened the  Republican  part}^  of  Colorado  was 
averted.  Grant  delegates  were  elected,  and  the 
convention  adjourned  animated  by  the  single 


50  THE  LEADVIIXE  STRIKE. 

purpose  of  the  success  of  the  Republican  party. 
On  the  day  following  the  convention  news  was 
received  from  Leadville  of  an  alleged  outbreak 
which  bade  fair  to  seriously  complicate  the  po- 
litical situation  in  Colorado.  It  has  never  been 
determined  what  was  the  primary  cause  of  the 
great  Leadville  strike  of  1880,  but  in  the  light  of 
later  events  it  is  now  sea  reel}' doubted  that  it  was 
organized  rather  by  certain  mine  managers  than 
by  the'ininers  themselves,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
covering  up  the  povert}'  of  some  of  the  mines 
until  the  principal  stockholders  could  unload. 
The  truth  will  probabl3r  never  be  known.  The 
strike,  starting  from  a  trivial  dispute,  spread 
over  the  entire  district  with  unexampled  rapidity, 
and  in  a  day  or  two  no  fewer  than  five  thousand 
miners  and  their  friends  were  organized,  wrll 
armed,  under  the  leadership  of  a  cool,  determined, 
and  withal  a  conservative  man  named  Michael 
Moone3\  Some  shaft  houses  were  burned,  and 
numerous  threats  against  the  property  of  the 
mine  owners  were  made.  The  restraining  influ- 
ence of  Moone}T,  however,  averted  a  general  out- 
break, though  for  several  days  the  danger  of  riot 
and  bloodshed  was  imminent,  owing  to  the  indis- 
creet threats  and  actions  of  hot  headed  men  on 
both  sides  of  the  controvers}\  The  miners  called 
out  every  miner  working  in  California  mining 
district;  meetings  were  held  at  which  turbulent 
characters  uttered  sentiments  which  gave  the 
business  men  and  property  owners  just  reason 
to  fear  that  violence  was  intended,  and  on  all 
sides  apprehensions  of  an  open  insurrection 


THE  STRIKE  BECOMES  SERIOUS  51 

were  felt.  As  a  result  of  this  alarm  a  counter 
organization  was  effected,  and  a  committee  of 
public  safet3T,  composed  of  the  leading-  business 
men  of  the  city,  was  formed.  Business  was  al- 
most entirely  suspended,  the  committee  of  pub- 
lic safet}T  held  daily  and  nightly  sessions,  and  a 
proposition  to  form  a  vigilance  committee  for 
the  purpose  of  hanging  the  leaders  of  the  so- 
called  riot— which,  looked  at  now,  over  the  inter- 
vening fifteen  years,  existed  only  in  the  fears  of 
the  business  communit}^  excited  by  interested 
parties— was  only  defeated  by  the  decided  stand 
taken  by  W.  H.  James,  Edward  Ecldy,  the  editor 
of  the  Leadville  Hera'd,  and  several  others. 
Arms  were  procured,  militar3r  companies  org'an- 
ized,  and  the  governor  was  petitioned  to  place 
the  district  under  martial  law.  On  Saturday, 
June  12,  the  announcement  was  made  that  a 
demonstration  would  be  made  by  the  miners, 
and  the  committee  of  public  safety,  with  more 
zeal  than  discretion,  decided  to  attempt  to  awe 
the  strikers  b}r  a  counter  demonstration  and  a  i 
imposing  show  of  strength.  The  miners'  parade 
over,  the  committee's  column  was  formed,  and 
amid  the  jeers  of  the  miners,  who  thronged  the 
sidewalks,  paraded  the  streets.  As  the  column 
broke  up,  an  indiscreet  act,  regretted  b}T  none 
more  heartily  than  the  gentleman  responsible 
for  its  commission,  very  nearly  precipitated  a 
conflict.  A  shot  was  fired  at  the  offender,  the 
partially  disintegrated  column  rallied  to  the 
scene  of  the  disturbance,  and  for  a  few  minutes 
matters  looked  decidedly  warlike.  The  offender 


MAKTIAL  LAW   DECLARED 

was  promptl}T,  and  somewhat  roughly  arrested 
and  lodged  in  jail,  but  the  excitement  was  intense, 
and  the  fears  then  felt  were  justifiable.  An  ex- 
citing- meeting-  of  the  committee  of  safety  was 
held  in  the  evening,  at  which  a  resolution  was 
adopted  directing-  the  secretary  to  send  a  tele- 
gram to  the  governor  insisting  upon  the  imme- 
diate declaration  of  martial  law.  A  telegram, 
couched  In  respectful  language,  and  signed  by 
the  11,")  member*  of  the  committee,  was  filed  in 
the  telegraph  office,  but  certain  members  of  the 
committee,  not  satisfied  with  the  language  em- 
ployed, substituted  the  following: 
"  To  Governor  l-\  IT.  fit  kin  : 

"  If  you  do  not  declare  martial  law  in  Leaclville 
at  once  you  are  no  governor  of  ours." 

There  was  no  shadow  of  excuse  for  such  bru- 
tality toward  such  a  gentleman  as  Governor  Pit- 
kin.  He,  being  a  lawyer  who  had  passed  through 
the  scenes  of  the  rebellion,  knew  that  the  invoca- 
tion of  martial  law  in  time  of  profound  peace 
was  a  dangerous  remedy  for  the  gravest  of  civil 
disorders,  and  the  only  possible  excuse  for  so 
gross  a  breach  of  courtesy  was  the  prevailing 
excitement.  The  governor  immediately  called  a 
council  of  his  most  trusted  advisers,  and  contra- 
ry to  his  own  better  judgment  and  that  of  sever- 
al members  of  the  military  board,  issued  his  pro- 
clamation declaring  martial  law. 

Its  effect  was  instantaneous.  Printed  on  Sun- 
day morning  and  passed  out  to  the  throng  on 
the  streets,  the  excitement  was  quelled  in  a  mo- 
ment. The  civil  authorities  were  not  interfered 


MARTIAL  LAW   THE  ISSUE  53 

with  in  any  respect,  the  militai^  acting  merely  as 
police,  and  under  the  command  of  Major  General 
D.  J.  Cook  and  \V.  H.  James,  who  had  been  com- 
missioned a  brigadier  g-eneral  for  the  occasion, 
matters  gradually  resumed  their  normal  condi- 
tion. But  Governor  Pitkin  was  extremely  fortu- 
nate. His  instructions  were  carefully  prepared 
with  a  view  to  the  prevention  of  the  loss  of  life 
but  had  a  single  life  been  lost  through  this  prac- 
tical setting  aside  of  the  civil  power,  which  we 
know  now  was  entirel}r  unwarranted  by  the  occa- 
sion, the  personal  consequences  to  the  governor 
would  have  been  of  the  gravest  character,  while 
there  are  the  best  of  reasons  for  the  belief  that 
the  state  would  have  been  lost  to  the  Republi- 
cans, perhaps  never  to  have  been  regained.  As  it 
was  the  incident  was  an  element  of  strength  to 
the  governor,  showing  in  the  most  favorable  light 
his  conservative  methods  of  dealing  \vith  the 
most  critical  situations,  though  in  the  campaign 
which  followed  it  required  the  most  earnest 
efforts  to  carry  the  state  against  the  arraignment 
of  Mr.  Patterson  during  the  campaign,  whose 
construction  of  the  law  as  affecting1  partisan  pol- 
itics was  sustained  \)y  the  history  of  English  ju- 
risprudence, and  in  complete  accordance  with 
the  spirit  of  Magna  Charta. 

In  the  declaration  of  martial  law  by  Governor 
Pitkin  Mr.  Patterson  saw  his  hope  of  achieving 
the  success  of  his  party.  He  was  then  the  ac- 
knowledged leader  of  the  Democrac}7,  though  his 
methods,  and  his  bold  assumption  of  the  reins  of 
part}^  government  had  already  antagonized 


54  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION 

of  his  political  associates  and  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  those  dissensions  which  have  resulted  in 
his  retirement  from  the  Democratic  organization. 
Mr.  Patterson  saw  that  03-  assailing-  Governor 
Pitkin  on  these  grounds  he  might  force  the  nom- 
ination by  the  Republicans  of  another  and  weak- 
er candidate,  or,  if  the  Republican  convention 
saw  fit  to  sustain  the  governor,  the  supposed  un- 
popular^ of  the  measure  might  at  least  cause 
the  defeat  of  the  head  of  the  ticket.  Consequent- 
ly, mainl3T  through  the  efforts  of  Patterson  and 
the  Denver  News,  the  martial  law  episode  became 
the  keynote  of  the  campaign.  The  Republican 
press  of  the  state  naturally  defended  the  head  of 
the  part}r  and  demanded  his  renomination  in  vin- 
dication of  his  acts.  The  general  sentiment  of 
the  part}'  was  in  the  same  line,  and  long  before 
the  meeting  of  the  convention  it  was  evident  that 
Pitkin  would  be  the  nominee  for  governor. 

The  Democratic  convention,  which  met  at 
Leadville  on  August  18,  was  more  than  usuall}^ 
storni3r.  A  respectable  minorit3r,  composed  of 
the  best  elements  of  the  part3^,  and  including 
such  well-known  and  respected  leaders  as  Hugh 
Butler,  Alfred  Sa3Tre,  J.  Y.  Marshall  and  others, 
was  not  onl3T  opposed  to  the  plans  of  Mr.  Patter- 
son on  principle,  but  were  beginning  to  be  tired 
of  being  required  to  sneeze  whenever  Mr.  Patter- 
son took  snuff,  and  when  the  platform  was  report- 
ed containing  a  plank  drawn  up  by  Patterson 
himself,  and  declaring  the  establishment  of  mar- 
tial law  in  Lake  count3r  to  have  been  "  a  danger- 
ous usurpation  of  authorit}-,  and  a  clear  and 


A   STORMY   DEBATE  55 

open  violation  of  the  constitution,"  a  vigorous 
opposition  at  once  developed.  The  debate  con- 
tinued during  the  greater  portion  of  a  day,  and 
was  marked  on  the  side  of  the  minority  by  the 
most  consummate  skill,  ability  and  patriotism. 
The  position  of  the  opponents  of  the  resolution 
was  that  the  end  justified  the  means;  that  no 
harm,  but,  on  the  contrary,  much  good,  had  re- 
sulted; that  the  peace  of  the  commonwealth  had 
been  threatened;  that  prompt  and  effective  mea- 
sures were  imperatively  necessary,  and  inasmuch 
as  the  result  of  the  measure  was  the  immediate 
restoration  of  peace  and  order,  the  Democratic 
party  would  only  belittle  itself  by  the  adoption 
of  the  resolution.  But  Mr.  Patterson,  as  usual, 
talked  to  the  jury;  his  torrents  of  invective,  his 
liberal  appeals  to  political  prejudice,  and  his  apt 
quotations  of  history  to  sustain  his  position, 
which  the  cooler  judgment  of  today  recognizes 
to  have  been  correct,  carried  the  day.  The  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  by  the  decisive  vote  of  225  to  90. 

But  when  the  nomination  for  congress  was 
offered  him  he  declined  the  honor,  either  fearing 
another  contest  with  Judge  Belford  or  not  caring 
to  submit  his  own  chances  to  the  test  forced  into 
the  campaign  by  himself.  John  S.  Hough,  of 
Hinsdale  was  nominated  for  governor,  and  R.  S. 
Morrison,  of  Clear  Creek,  for  congress. 

In  the  Republican  convention,  which  met  in 
Leadville  on  August  26,  the  Lake  county  affair 
was  hardly  considered.  The  convention  prompt- 
ly vindicated  the  governor  by  a  renomination  by 
acclamation.  The  main  struggle  of  the  conven- 


56  A  CONGRESSIONAL  CONTEST 

tion  was  over  the  nomination  for  congress.  Three 
gentlemen  had  made  the  canvass  for  the  nomina- 
tion-Judge  Belford,  W.S.  Decker, and  C.I.Thom- 
son, now  a  member  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  The 
three  candidates  were  about  equal  in  strength, 
and  the  principal  interest  in  111  is  contest  was  in 
the  fact  that  a  determined  effort  \vas  making  by 
Senator  Hill,  General  Hamill,  K.  O.  and  H.  R. 
\Volcott,  and  others,  to  compass  the  defeat  of  Mr. 
Belford,  During  the  preceding  two  years  an  un- 
fortunate difference  had  arisen  between  the  two 
United  States  senators.  Mr.  Belford  had  gener- 
ally sided  with  Mr.  Teller  in  the  controversies 
that  had  arisen  between  that  gentleman  and  his 
colleague.  Mr.  Teller  was  a  member  of  the  con- 
vention and  presented  Belford's  name,  and  the  op- 
portunity seemed  favorable  for  Senator  Hill  to 
administer  a  defeat  to  his  colleague  and  at  the 
same  time  punish  Belford  for  his  disregard  of 
Mr.  HilTs  interests  in  the  matter  of  appointments 
and  in  congressional  affairs.  With  (Jeneral  Ham- 
ill  and  the  two  Wolcotts  a  combination  was 
formed  that  was  not  to  be  despised,  and  when,  on 
the  eve  of  the  convention,  it  was  announced  in 
the  lobbies  of  the  Clarendon  that  Ed  Wolcott  was 
to  be  sprung  upon  the  convention  as  a  dark  horse 
for  the  congressional  nomination,  the  announce- 
ment became  the  sensation  of  the  hour.  The 
struggle  at  Leadville  was  the  first  of  the  series 
of  contests  between  the  two  senators  which  sub- 
sequently split  the  party  into  factions,  and  on 
two  occasions  caused  serious  disaster.  Mr.  Hill 
was  extremel}:  active  in  the  effort  to  secure  votes 


A  CONGRESSIONAL  DARK  HORSE  57 

for  Wolcott,  and  made  personal  appeals  to  dele- 
gates, while  his  associates,  before  the  meeting-  of 
the  convention,  had  succeeded  in  securing* 
pledges  from  over  one  hundred  delegates  in  cer- 
tain contingencies.  On  the  evening  before  the 
convention,  however,  a  consultation  between  the 
friends  of  the  three  candidates  resulted  in  the 
selection  of  Colonel  G.  G.  Symes,  afterward  mem- 
ber of  congress,  to  endeavor  to  put  a  stop  to  the 
raid.  In  a  conversation  in  the  crowded  lobb}r  of 
the  hotel,  Symes  public^  denounced  the  candi- 
dacy of  Mr.  Wolcott,  after  the  three  gentlemen 
named  had  made  their  preliminary  canvass 
openly,  as  indecent,  and  contrary  to  party  usages, 
and  threatened, in  the  event  of  Mr.  Wolcott  being- 
brought  before  the  convention,  to  denounce  his 
candidac}^  on  the  floor  of  that  body.  Whether 
this  threat  was  effective  or  not,  Mr.  Wolcott's 
name  was  not  mentioned. 

The  position  of  Lake  county  in  this  contest 
has  never  been  properl}^  understood.  The  friends 
of  Mr.  Thomson  were  all  friends  of  Belford, 
and  while  they  were  all  in  earnest  for  Thomson, 
it  was  never  intended  that  he  should  be  used 
merely  as  a  club  to  beat  Belford.  If  Thomson 
could  not  be  nominated,  it  was  thorough^  un- 
derstood that  the  Thomson  delegates  should  go 
to  Belford,  and  to  this  Mr.  Thomson  himself  as- 
sented. The  opportunit}r  came  on  the  second 
formal  ballot.  About  one-half  the  roll  of  coun- 
ties had  been  called,  when  it  became  evident  that 
the  result  of  holding  Mr.  Thomson's  votes  would 
be  the  defeat  of  Belford,  and  after  a  hurried  con- 


BELFORD   REXOMIXATKD 

sultation  the  remaining  Thomson  counties  cast 
their  votes  for  Belford.  Summit  county  led  off 
with  11  votes,  and  it  became  immediate^'  appa- 
rent that  Belford  would  be  nominated,  Lake  coun- 
ty clinch  ing-  the  matter  by  changing1  her  vote  from 
H5  for  Thomson  to  31  for  Belford  and  4  for  Decker. 

The  canvass  was  exceedingly  warm,  the  mar- 
tial law  issue  being-  the  principal  topic  of  dis- 
cussion, but  lacked  much  of  the  personal  bitter- 
ness which  had  characterized  that  of  two  3'ears 
before.  Pitkin  was  elected  by  2918  pluralit}7,  Bel- 
ford  by  2613  plurality,  and  the  Republicans  elect- 
ed 46  out  of  the  62  members  of  the  assembly, 
the  Republican  majority  on  joint  ballot  being 
37. 

Soon  after  the  election  the  differences  between 
the  senators,  which  had  been  smothered  during 
the  campaign,  broke  out  in  open  warfare.  It  was 
charged  by  the  friends  of  Teller  and  Belford  that 
Senator  Hill  and  Kd  Wolcott  had  not  cordially 
supported  the  ticket,  and  that  rnone}-  had  been 
used  in  Gilpin  county  for  the  purpose  of  causing 
Mr.  Belford  to  run  behind  his  ticket  at  his  own 
home.  These  charges  were  indignant^  denied, 
but  the  denials  were  not  accepted,  mutual  crimi- 
nations followed,  and  through  the  hot-headed  in- 
discretions of  partisans  on  each  side  the  breach 
was  widened,  and  the  wa}r  paved  for  the  bolt  of 
1882. 

The  martial  law  question  did  not  die  with  the 
election.  Somebody  was  responsible  for  the  ex- 
penses. Mr.  Patterson  had  advised  his  friends 
to  see  to  it  that  Lake  county  paid  not  one  cent. 


PAYING  THE   MARTIAL  LAW   BILLS  59 

The  advice  was  unnecessar}^,  as  public  sentiment 
was  strongly  in  favor  of  the  payment  of  the  bill 
by  the  state.  When  the  legislature  met,  however, 
it  was  found  that  there  was  a  covert  opposition 
to  the  payment  of  these  expenses  in  the  Repub- 
lican ranks.  This  opposition  was  entirely  direct- 
ed against  Governor  Pitkin,  and  as  Senator  Wol- 
cott  of  Clear  Creek  was  its  leader  Senator  Hill 
was  charged  with  having-  inspired  the  Repub- 
lican objections  A  bill  introduced  by  Senator 
Weston,  of  Lake  for  the  payment  of  these  ex- 
penses was  championed  by  Senator  Jacobson,  of 
Arapahoe,  and  as  it  was  clearly  a  party  measure, 
and  its  defeat  would  only  result  in  loss  to  those 
who  had  furnished  the  supplies,  the  opposition 
dwindled  down  to  the  pettiest  dimensions,  and 
the  bill  finally  passed  on  February  9,  only  a  few 
days  before  the  close  of  the  session. 

George  B.  Robinson  was  elected  lieutenant- 
governor,  but  was  accidentally  killed  at  his  own 
mine  near  Kokomo,  on  November  27.  Conse- 
quently, as  the  lieutenant-governor  had  failed  to 
qualify,  Mr.  Tabor  claimed  and  retained  the  office 
for  the  ensuing  two  years. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1880. 

PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

Wm.A.  Hamill 27,450    S.  S.  Wallace 24,647 

A.  C,  Hunt 27,361    John  S.  Wheeler 54.635 

E.  T.  Wells...   27,299    Nathaniel  Nathan 24,566 

CONGRESS. 

47th  Congress— J.  B.  Belford 27,'H'9    R.  S.  Morrison 24,476 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— F.  W.  Pitkin 28,46")    John  S.  Hough 23.547 

Lt-Gov.    — Geo.  B.  Robinson 27,521    W.  C.  Stover 24,238 

Secy  St'e-N.H.  Meldrum 27,263    C.  O.  Unfug 24,506 

Treas.       — W.  C.  Saunders 27,587    And.  Y.  Hull 24,440 

Auditor  —Jos  A.  Davis 27,448    R.  C.  Bre 24,47") 

Atty  Gen-C.  II.Toll 27,338    J.  C.  Stallcup 24,549 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

—L.S.Cornell 27,o03    J.  J.  Crook 24,436 

Regents  of  the  University* 

— J.  ( \  Shattuck 50,352    Max  Herman 54,604 

— James  Rice 45  925     (Vacancy.) 

JUDICIARY. 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court     (Election  held  in  1879.) 

—Win.  Beck, 16,920    Geo.  Q.  Richmond.  .12,702 

District  Judges 

1st  Diet.  — C.  C.  Carpenter! 6214    Joseph  Mann 4721 

4th    "      —  Jos.  C.  Helm} 10,733    N.  H.  Love 10,634 

District  Attorneys    (Election  held  in  1879.) 

1st  Dist.  —Harper  M.  Orahood 4146    F.  M.  Brown 2906 

2d      "      —D.B.Graham 4122    J.  W.  Norvell 1888 

3d      "     —James  E.  Martin 2262    R.  A.  Quillian.. 3757 

4th    "      -C.  W.  Burris 5801    A.  T.  Gunnell 4601 

THIRD  GENERAL   ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 

President  pro  tem.—H.  R.  Wolcott.    Secretary— Wm.  M.Clark. 
1st  Dist.— James  M.  Freeman        4th    "      — H.  R.  Wolcott 
2d     "     -L.  R.  Rhodes  5th    "     -H.  H.  Eddy 

3d     "     —Henry  Neikirk  6th    "      — E.  O.  Wolcott 

— Rienzi  Streeter  — H.  S.  Kearney 

*Each  party  nominated  one  candidate  for  regent,  whose  name 
was  printed  on  both  tickets. 

fTo  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  Wm.  E.  Beck. 
JTo  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  T.  M.  Bowen. 


THIRD    GENERAL   ASSEMBLY 


61 


7th    "     — A.  H.  De  France  13th1 

8th    "     — M.  A.  Rogers  14th  ' 

—Frank  Church  15th  ' 

— J.  S.  Stanger  16th  ' 

— -E.  P.  Jacobson  17th  ' 

9th  Dist.— Frank  T.  Cochrane 

10th  "     —  C.  E.  Stubbs  18th  • 

llth  "     — L.  W.  Wells  19th  ' 

12th  "     —Assyria  Hall  20th  ' 


-A  S.  Weston 
—Thomas  C.  Parrish 
— Aldridge  Corder 
— Clemente  Trujillo 
— James  M.  John 
— Casimero  Barela 
— Juan  A.  Baca 
—John  A.  Gale 
—Fred  C.  Peck 


HOUSE  OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 


Speaker— W.  H.  Doe 
Arapahoe     — Wm.  H.  Birchard 
—Jos.  W.  Bowles 
— M.  B.  Carpenter 
— Geo.  S.  Oatman 
—Herman  F.  Lauter 
—John  T.  Gunnell 
— Julius  A.  Myers 
Bent  —John  W.  Prowers 

Boulder        — O.  F.  A.  Green 
— L.  H.  Dickson 
—Samuel  M.  Breath 
— Wm.  O.  Wise 
Clear  Creek— Wm.  H.  Doe 
— C.  P.  Bryan 
— John  A  Coulter 
— Samuel  A.  King 
— Jesus  M.  Valdez 
—Antonio  A.  Salazar 


Conejos 
Costilla 
Conejos  & 
Costilla 
Custer  & 
Fremont 

Douglas 
Elbert 
El  Paso 


— Jose  A.  Garcia 

— Jas.  A.  McCandless 
— J.  J.  Rowen 
—George  Engl 
— Henry  Gebhard 
— M.  A.  Foster 
— C.  W.  Barker 


Clerk— R.  M.  Stevenson 
Gilpin       — Abram  Lyon 

—John  B.  Ballard 

—John  Bunney 
Grand  & 

Routt        —Albert  H.  Smart 
Gunnison  Chaffee  & 
Lake          — E.  D.  Baker 
Hinsdale  — Preston  Nutter 
Huerfano— Juan  B.  Cruz 

—A.  J.  Martinez 
Jefferson  — John  A.  Hoagland 

—Henry  Lee 

La  Plata  — T.  J.  McClure 
Larimer   — Thomas  Johnson 
Las  Animas— M.  Beshoar 

— J.  B.  Martinez 

—Jose  R.  Aguilar 
Park          —A.  Bergh 
Pueblo      —James  B.  Orman 

— James  B.  Cox 
Rio  Grande— S.  W.  Homer 
Saguache— F.  J.  Hartman 
San  Juan  & 

Ouray        —A.  W.  Hudson 
Summit    —James  W.  Swisher 
Weld         — J.  L.  Brush 

— Andrew  Lumry 


THE    campaign    of    1882     reall}-    com- 
J_Oo2     menced  with    the    Leadville    municipal 

election  in  April  of  that  j-ear.  In  1881 
Dr.  D.  H.  Dougan  had  been  elected  mayor  of 
Leadville,  after  a  hard  struggle,  by  the  narrow 
majority  of  75.  Renominated  the  following-  year, 
he  was  re-elected  by  the  unexpected  majority  of 
750.  This  result  was  in  a  large  measure  due  to 
the  personal  efforts  of  Krnest  L.  Campbell,  and 
in  a  conference  of  the  part}7  leaders,  held  in  the 
Herald  office,  Mr.  I.  W.  Chatfield  urged  the  naming 
of  Mr.  Campbell  as  Leadville's  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor at  the  convention.  As  Leadville  had  not  re- 
ceived the  recognition  on  the  state  ticket  to  which 
it  was  thought  to  be  entitled,  the  suggestion  met 
with  favor,  and  the  name  of  Mr.  Campbell  was 
brought  out  in  the  Herald  and  met  with  a  favora- 
ble reception  from  the  press  of  the  state.  His 
candidacy,  however,  was  not  received  enthusias- 
tically by  the  friends  of  Mayor  Dougan,  who 
were  inclined  to  attribute  the  result  of  the  elec- 
tion solely  to  the  popularity  of  the  candidate, 
-and  to  favor  him  as  Leadville's  candidate  for  the 
gubernatorial  nomination. 

It  is  difficult  to  fairly  represent  Mr.  Campbell, 
as  very  soon  after  his  defeat  circumstances  arose 
which  afforded  those  who  opposed  his  election 
an  apparent  justification  for  their  course,  but  it 
is  due  to  him  to  say  that  he  was  undoubtedly  the 


CAMPBELL  A  CANDIDATE  63 

choice  of  the  Republicans  of  Lake  county;  that, 
at  the  time  of  his  nomination,  no  good  reason 
could  be  given  against  his  being-  a  candidate, 
and  that  he  had  certainly  earned  his  prefer- 
ment by  the  most  ardent  and  successful  efforts 
in  behalf  of  the  Republican  party.  There  are  al- 
so good  reasons  for  the  belief  that  had  he  re- 
ceived that  cordial  support  to  which  he  was  en- 
titled by  a  nomination  the  fairness  of  which  has 
never  been  questioned,  and  cannot  be  successful- 
ly  disputed,  the  circumstances  referred  to  would 
never  have  arisen.  The  charges  made  during  the 
campaign  that  he  had  assisted  in  defeating  the 
Republican  county  ticket  in  Lake  county,  the 
previous  year,  and  that  he  was  a  Democrat  when 
he  first  came  to  the  state,  were  absolutely  untrue. 
Ernest  L.  Campbell  was  an  attorney,  a  brother- 
in-law  of  T.  M.  Patterson,  and  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Patterson,  Thomas  &  Campbell,  practicing 
in  the  Leadville  office  of  the  firm.  Later  he  be- 
came engaged  in  banking  in  Leadville.  He  had 
been  a  resident  of  Colorado  since  1872,  and  had 
always-  been  an  earnest  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Republican  party,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion of  the  occasions  when  Mr.  Patterson  was  a 
candidate  for  congress,  when,  in  all  probability, 
he  voted  for  his  brother-in-law.  During  the  four 
years  that  he  had  been  in  Leadville,  however,  he 
had  uniformly  acted  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  had  been  of  great  assistance  to  the  party, es- 
pecially in  the  municipal  campaign  of  1882. 
Those  who  knew  him  in  Denver  twenty  or  more 
years  ago  will  acknowledge  the  truth  of  these 


(U  THE  SENATORIAL  BREACH 

statements.  Anything-  to  the  contra^  was  never 
mentioned  until  after  he  became  a  candidate  for 
governor. 

During1  the  session  of  congress  the  breach  be- 
tween Senators  Teller  and  Hill  had  constantly 
widened.  P.  P.  Wilcox,  United  States  Marshal 
for  Colorado,  was  a  warm  adherent  of  Mr.  Teller, 
who  ardentU^  desired  his  reappointment,  but,  as 
was  charged  at  the  time,  mainl}^  through  the 
efforts  of  Senator  Hill,  Mr.  Wilcox  failed  to  re- 
ceive the  appointment,  and  Senator  Teller  retali- 
ated by  making  a  strong  effort  to  secure  the  re- 
moval of  Herman  Silver,  then  superintendent  of 
the  Denver  mint,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Hill  faction.  These  differences  were  transmitted 
to  the  adherents  of  both  gentlemen,  in  Colorado, 
and  the  suggestion  of  Campbell  for  governor, 
coming,  as  it  did,  from  the  friends  of  Mr.  Teller, 
aroused  the  most  bitter  antagonism  on  the  part 
of  the  Hill  following,  all  over  the  state.  Another, 
and  perhaps  the  most  important  matter  of  all, 
intensified  the  unseeing  contest.  About  the 
middle  of  March  it  was  reported  that  Senator 
Teller  had  been  requested  by  President  Arthur 
to  accept  the  portfolio  of  the  Interior  Depart- 
ment. The  report  was  received  with  enthusiasm 
by  the  Teller  faction,  with  indignation  by  the 
friends  of  Senator  Hill,  and  with  ridicule  by  the 
Democrats.  The  Republican  editorially  charged 
Senator  Teller  with  having  maneuvered  to  secure 
the  appointment,  and  that  one  of  the  conditions 
was  to  make  a  place  for  ex-senator  Chaffee,  who, 
in  the  event  of  Teller's  appointment,  would  be 


TELLER  FOR   THE  CABINET  05 

appointed  senator  by  Governor  Pitkin.  The  ed- 
itorial was  telegraphed  in  full  to  Washing-ton, 
and  the  charge  was  indignantly  denied  b}^  both 
Teller  and  Chaffee.  Governor  Pitkin  also  denied 
it,  and  informed  inquirers  at  his  office  that  while 
he  had  not  given  the  matter  -any  consideration, 
he  had  not  the  remotest  intention  of  appointing 
Senator  Chaffee.  Senator  Teller's  friends  at  Den- 
ver at  once  charged  that  the  editorial  was  inspir- 
ed by  Senator  Hill,  some  going  so  far  as  to  say 
that  it  had  been  written  by  him  and  telegraphed 
to  the  Republican.  The  Washington  correspond- 
ent of  the  News  treated  the  rumor  as  an  absurdity, 
asserting  that  it  was  extremely  improbable  that 
President  Arthur  would  displace  Kirkwood,  the 
war  governor  of  Iowa,  a  state  giving  50,000  Re- 
publican majorit}^,  in  order  to  appoint  a  new  Sen- 
ator from  a  state  casting  but  50,000  votes,  that 
it  was  a  scheme,  concocted  entirel37  by  Mr.  Teller, 
in  the  hope  of  regaining  the  prestige  as  a  leader 
lost  b}^  the  defeat  of  Wilcox  for  marshal,  and  that 
his  efforts  in  this  direction  were  hopeless.  The 
controversy  arising  from  this  report  greatly  in- 
creased the  bitterness  between  the  friends  of  the 
two  senators,  and  Senator  Hill  was  accused  of 
endeavoring  to  prevent  the  appointment  of  Mr. 
Teller,  and  thus  deprive  Colorado  of  the  honor 
of  a  place  in  the  cabinet. 

The  facts  are  that  it  was  known  that  the  presi- 
dent had  decided  upon  the  change,  and  Mr.  Chaf- 
fee had  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
appointment.  Mr.  Teller  was  earnestly  endeavor- 
ing to  secure  the  appointment  for  Chaffee,  and 


(n>  TELLEK  APPOINTED  TO  THE  CABINET 

upon  calling-  on  the  president  for  the  purpose  of 
urging-  Mr.  Chaffee's  selection  was  told  that  Mr. 
Chaffee  could  not  be  considered  in  connection 
with  the  place,  but  that  he  (Teller)  could  have  it 
if  he  would  accept  it.  To  this  Mr.  Teller  replied 
that  he  could  not  accept  the  appointment  with- 
out first  consulting-  Mr.  Chaffee,  and  an  under- 
standing was  had  that  nothing  should  be  clone 
pending  advices  from  Chaffee.  The  latter  was 
then  in  Florida,  and  in  response  to  a  request 
from  Mr.  Teller,  came  to  Washington.  Upon 
learning  the  situation  he  at  once  urged  Mr.  Tel- 
ler to  accept  the  appointment,  and  went  to  the 
president  to  assure  him  that  the  selection  of  Mr. 
Teller  would  be  eminentl}'  satisfactoi;y  to  himself. 
The  offer  was  repeated,  and  Mr.  Teller  asked  a 
little  time  to  consider  the  matter,  and  consult  his 
friends  in  Colorado.  While  the  controvers}7  over 
the  affair  was  in  progress  in  the  newspapers  of 
Denver,  Mr.  Teller's  personal  friends  were  in  pos- 
session of  the  facts,  and  with  scarcely  an  excep- 
tion urged  him  to  accept  the  position.  It  was  re- 
garded as  an  honor  to  the  state  which  he  could 
not  afford  to  decline,  the  utmost  confidence  being 
felt  that  Governor  Pitkin  would  appoint  as  his 
successor  in  the  senate  a  man  who  would  prop- 
erly represent  the  state  and  the  Republican  par- 
ty. Accordingl}-  Mr.  Teller  accepted  the  tender 
and  on  April  6  his  name  was  sent  to  the  senate. 
When  the  appointment  of  Senator  Teller  was 
first  mentioned  T.  M.  Bowen,  Geo.  M.  Chilcott, 
John  L.  Routt  and  H.  A.  W.  Tabor  were  applcants 
for  the  succession.  Gov.  Pitkin's  known  aspira- 


CHILCOTT  SUCCEEDS  TELLER  67 

tions  made  it  an  awkward  situation  for  him. 
The  i\ews  prompt^  charged  that  he  would  not 
appoint  a  man  from  south  of  the  divide,  as  that 
would  interfere  with  his  own  chances  of  election 
in  1883.  Then  came  the  rumor  that  Bowen  had 
retired  from  the  contest,  which  Bowen  denied  in 
his  usual  emphatic  manner,  announcing-  that  he 
was  in  the  field  to  stay.  Mr.  Tabor  was  zealous 
and  aggressive  in  his  own  behalf,  and  left  no 
stone  unturned  to  secure  the  appointment.  He 
was  the  ownei  of  a  block  of  stock  in  the  I,eadville 
Herald,  and  demanded  the  support  of  that  paper. 
The  remainder  of  the  stock  was  held  by  parties 
who  were  opposed  to  him,  and  the  paper  refused 
to  accede  to  his  demands.  The  result  was  that 
the  Herald  stock  was  .unloaded  upon  Mr.  Tabor  at 
a  round  premium,  and  he  enjoyed  a  brief  and 
costly  season  of  newspaper  management.  The 
News  charged  Governor  Pitkin  with  the  assertion 
that  under  no  circumstances  would  he  appoint 
Tabor.  Those  who  knew  Governor  Pitkin  gave 
no  credit  to  the  charge.  The  governor  was  ani- 
mated b3^  the  most  honorable  motives.  While  he 
knew  that  whatever  appointment  he  might  make 
would  be  likely  to  create  antagonisms  that  might 
endanger  his  own  chances  of  election,  he  knew 
that  the  southern  portion  of  the  state  was  justl}1- 
entitled  to  consideration,  and  would  not  subordi- 
nate what  he  felt  to  be  his  duty  to  his  ambition 
Mr.  Teller's  resignation  reached  Denver  on  April 
10,  and  on  the  12th  George  M.  Chilcott,  of  Pueblo 
was  appointed. 

Soon  afterward   it   was  announced   that  H.  R. 


68          WOIvCOTT   ANNOUNCED  FOR   GOVERNOR 

Wolcott  would  be  a  candidate  for  the  nomination 
for  governor  before  the  Republican  State  conven- 
tion. Up  to  this  time  Campbell's  candidacy  had 
been  merely  tentative,  and  while  received  with 
more  or  less  fa  vor,  had  made  no  decided  progress. 
The  controversy  between  the  friends  of  Senator 
Hill  and  Sec  ret  a  rj7  Teller,  however,  had  reached 
such  a  point  that  it  was  felt  that  some  candidate 
should  be  selected  for  the  nomination  of  the  Re- 
publican party  as  especialty  representing-  Teller 
inasmuch  as  Wolcott  was  considered  as  peculiar- 
ly the  candidate  of  Senator  Hill.  Since  the  sale 
of  the  Leadville  Herald  to  Mr.  Tabor  the  Denver 
Times  had  been  generally  recognized  as  devoted 
to  Mr.  Teller's  interests,  and  when  that  paper,  in 
a  brief  paragraph,  endorsed  Mr.  Campbell,  Mr. 
Teller's  friends  all  over  the  state,  recognizing  the 
necessity  of  having  some  one  candidate  upon 
whom  to  rally  as  against  Mr.  Wolcott,  and  desir- 
ous of  securing  the  support  of  the  Leadville  del- 
egation, which  was  assured  for  Campbell,  very 
general^  settled  upon  Campbell. 

There  was  no  objection  to  Mr.  Wolcott,  person- 
ally. He  was  then  considered  a  sterling  Repub- 
lican; who  deserved  well  of  his  party,  and  under 
other  circumstances  there  is  little  doubt  that  he 
would  have  received  the  nomination.  Less  ag- 
gressive than  his  brother,  he  had  created  fewer 
antagonisms,  and  among  the  most  earnest  sup- 
porters of  Mr.  Campbell  there  were  many  who 
sincerely  regretted  that  the  contest  had  assumed  - 
such  a  shape  that  they  could  not  vote  for  Wolcott. 
The  contest  was  purely  the  outgrowth  of  the 


THE  FIGHT   AGAINST   HILL  69 

bitterness  needles  3l}r  engendered  through  per- 
sonal ambitions — a  condition  almost  inseparable 
from  active  politics— and  which  had  been  en- 
hanced b}^  the  aggressiveness  of  the  3^ounger 
Wolcott.  Neither  Mr.  Chaff ee  nor  Mr.  Teller  was 
opposed  to  Wolcott  on  personal  grounds.  They 
objected  to  his  candidacy  at  that  time  for  the  sole 
reason  that  he  was  the  representative  of  Senator 
Hill,  and  the  senatorial  question  was  involved  in 
the  gubernatorial  contest.  Mr.  Chaffee  replied 
to  the  request  of  General  Hamill  for  the  with- 
drawal of  his  opposition  to  Wolcott,  that  if  Wol- 
cott would  wait  until  after  the  senatorial  ques- 
tion was  disposed  of  he  would  cheerfully  sup- 
port him  for  governor,  but  he  absolutely  refused 
his  consent  to  the  nomination  of  Wolcott,  with 
the  certainty  that  in  the  event  of  his  election  the 
entire  strength  of  the  state  administration  would 
be  used  to  secure  the  re-election  of  Hill  to  the 
senate.  The  opposition  of  Chaffee  and  Teller  to 
Hill's  re-election  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole 
controversy  and  led  to  the  formation  of  a  combi- 
nation between  those  gentlemen  of  which  Camp- 
bell's nomination  was  merely  a  necessary  inci- 
dent. The  actual  contest  was  between  Chaf- 
fee and  Teller  on  one  side,  and  Hill -on  the  other, 
with  the  senatorial  succession  as  the  prize.  Sup- 
porting Senator  Hill  were  General  Hamill  and 
Ed.  Wolcott.  The  management  of  the  campaign 
for  the  nomination  of  Henrj^  Wolcott  for  govern- 
or was  in  the  hands  of  General  Hamill,  and  it 
was  due  to  his  well-laid  plans  that  the  Chaffee- 
Teller  combination  was  defeated  in  Arapahoe 


70  THE  PRELIMINARY   CAXVASS 

count}'.  In  his  support  of  \Volcott  Senator  Hill 
was  looking-  after  his  own  interests,  and  aside 
from  this  and  it  is  doubtful  if  he  was  more  par- 
ticularly active  in  laying1  the  foundations  for 
Wolcott's  nomination  than  would  be*  natural 
from  a  desire  for  the  success  of  a  trusted  busi- 
ness associate. 

From  early  in  the  spring  the  Wolcott  forces 
were  active  in  the  laying-  of  plans  for  the  cap- 
ture of  Arapahoe  count}'.  Kcl.  Wolcott,  young-, 
brilliant,  aggressive  and  daring',  excited  the  ad- 
miration of  the  younger  members  of  the  Repub- 
lican parfy,  and  surrounded  himself  with  a  cote- 
rie of  the  brightest  young  men  of  Denver.  The 
older  men  were  largely  with  Mr.  Teller.  The 
Wolcott  forces  sneered  at  the  old-fashioned  meth- 
ods of  their  antagonists,  and  applied  to  them  the 
sobriquet  of  "Windmills,"  which  became  one  of 
the  recognized  catchwords  of  the  canvass. 

The  date  fixed  for  the  Arapahoe  primaries  was 
September  7,  and  on  that  date  both  sides  were 
thoroughly  organized.  Never  before  had  money 
been  so  openly  and  unblushirigly  used  to  carry 
the  primaries.  In  this  respect  neither  side  had 
the  advantage,  except,  perhaps,  as  to  the  size  of 
the  "  barrel."  But  the  Wolcott  men  were  the  best 
disciplined,  and  when  the  polls  were  opened 
every  one  of  the  six  polling  places  were  in  their 
possession.  In  the  second,  third,  fourth  and 
sixth  wards  they  held  the  line  to  the  close,  and 
whatever  may  be  thought  of  their  methods,  it  is 
a  tribute  to  their  thoroughness  that  Judge  Steck, 
who  had  been  a  resident  of  the  fourth  ward  for 


THE   ARAPAHOE   PRIMARIEvS  71 

twenty  years,  had  no  opportunity  to  cast  his  bal- 
lot for  delegates.  In  the  fifth  ward  a  line  of  men 
seated  on  benches,  and  provided  with  Wolcott 
tickets,  were  on  hand  long-  before  the  polls  were 
opened.  Regardless  of  cost,  more  than  three- 
fourths  of  those  tickets  were  purchased  and  the 
other  tickets  substituted.  The  result  was  seen 
when  the  ballots  were  counted.  The  Chaffee 
ticket  was  carried  beyond  the  hope  of  a  success- 
ful contest.  In  the  first  ward  the  struggle  was 
exceedingly  bitter  and  violent,  and  at  the  close 
both  sides  claimed  the  ward.  On  a  count  the  vic- 
tory was  given  to  the  Chaffee  ticket  by  a  small 
majority.  The  Wolcott  men  at  once  disputed  the 
count,  and  spent  an  hour  or  more  in  wrangling. 
As  it  was  necessary  that  this  ward  should  be  car- 
ried for  Wolcott,  a  sham  fight  was  inaugurated 
and  in  the  melee  the  ballot  box  was  overturned 
and  the  ballots  scattered  on  the  floor.  It  was 
charged  by  the  Chaffee  men  that  one  of  the 
other  side,  who  was  shoved  over  the  table,  had 
his  hands  full  of  ballots  and  dropped  them  in 
the  heap  on  the  floor.  At  all  events,  on  a  recount 
the  Wolcott  ticket  had  a  majorit}7,  though  one  of 
the  judges  refused  to  sign  the  certificate. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  county  convention  a  few 
days  afterward,  Ed  Wolcott  was  the  dominating 
spirit.  He  held  the  party  machinery  in  his 
hands,  and  was  careful  to  lose  no  advantage  that 
he  had  gained,  being  ably  assisted  by  M.  Spang- 
ler,  then  sheriff  of  Arapahoe  county.  The  first 
ward  contested,  but  the  contest  was  smothered 
in  the  credentials  committee,  and  the  Wolcott 


72  THE  AKAPAHOE  CONTEST. 

delegates  were  seated.  A  movement  was  made 
toward  a  bolt,  but  it  was  not  met  with  favor,  and 
the  convention  selected  a  Wolcott  delegation  to 
the  state  convention,  and  adjourned  till  after  the 
meeting-  of  that  body.  The  case  of  the  first  ward 
was  carefully  prepared  by  the  Cliaffee  party, 
and  as  the  test  vote  in  the  count}7  convention  had 
been  forty  to  thirty-one,  it  was  claimed  that  had 
the  eleven  Chaffee  delegates  from  the  first  ward 
been  admitted  the  convention  would  have  select- 
ed a  ChafTee  delegation  to  the  State  convention. 
This  document,  with  the  accompanying  affida- 
vits, was  submitted  to  the  credentials  committee 
on  the  assembling  of  the  stale  convention. 

The  state  convention  met  in  Denver,  at  the 
Tabor  Opera  House,  on  September  14.  On  the 
gathering  of  the  clans,  two  or  three  days  before 
the  appointed  time,  it  was  soon  demonstrated 
that  Wolcott  had  not  the  shadow  of  a  chance  ex- 
cept as  the  second  choice  of  some  of  the  delega- 
tions, for  while  he  had  something  over  a  hundred 
votes  that  he  could  deliver  in  any  direction,  and 
for  an}-  purpose,  there  were  too  many  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  successful  trading.  Some  trades 
were  offered,  however,  which  would  have  result- 
ed in  Wolcott's  nomination,  but  were  rejected  by 
the  Wolcott  party  on  grounds  which,  in  a  politi- 
cal contest  of  this  character  should  have  had  no 
weight  Most  of  his  efforts  were  therefore  direct- 
ed toward  securing  votes  as  second  choice.  There 
were  three  other  candidates  in  the  field  for  the 
gubernatorial  nomination  — N.  H.  Meldrum,  of 
Larimer,  J.  M.  Maxwell,  of  Boulder,  and  B.  H 


THE  STATE  CONVENTION  <3 

Katon,  of  Weld,  and  the  vote  of  the  convention 
was  divided  practicall}7  as  follows:  Wolcott  106, 
Campbell  90,  Meldrum  60,  Maxwell  30,  Katon  17, 
and  a  few  scattering-.  It  was  argued  by  the  Wol- 
cott leaders  that  their  man  alone  could  hold  his 
strength  to  the  finish,  and  that  the  correct  polic}^ 
would  be  to  wear  out  the  convention,  in  the 
meantime  making-  ever}'  effort  to  secure  votes  for 
second  choice.  Most  of  the  other  candidates  rep- 
resented the  "Windmill"  interest.  Meldrum  was 
ready  to  throw  his  following  to  Campbell  at  any 
time  that  it  would  effect  a  nomination,  but  Katon 
and  Maxwell  refused  to  be  parties  to  such  a  com- 
bination. Maxwell  was  offered  the  nomination 
for  congress,  but  his  friends  refused  it,  deter- 
mined that  he  should  secure  the  gubernatorial 
nomination  or  nothing*.  Mr.  Chaffee  worked 
hard  to  secure  a  combination  that  would  defeat 
Wolcott  but  failed,  and  at  12  o'clock  on  the  night 
before  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  gave  up 
the  contest,  convinced  that  if  the  convention  as- 
sembled in  its  then  condition  Wolcott  could  not 
possibly  be  defeated.  In  the  meantime  the  Wol- 
cott emissaries  had  not  been  idle.  It  was  known 
before  midnight  that  more  than  half  the  Le:ul- 
ville  delegation  would  vote  for  Wolcott,  for  sec- 
ond choice,  with  a  possibility  that  some  would 
do  so  at  first;  that  several  of  Meldrum's  delegates 
had  been  approached  with  substantial  offers,  and 
that  it  was  only  a  question  of  the  time  when  the 
break  should  come;  that  Wolcott  was  in  the  best 
possible  situation  to  snatch  victory  from  the 
jaws  of  defeat.  But  after  Mr.  Chaffee  had  aban- 


7-t  A  COMBINE   EFFECTED 

doned  the  apparently  hopeless  contest  five  gen- 
tlemen met  in  a  room  in  the  St.  James  hotel  -  T. 
M.  Bowen,  Otto  Mears,  N.  H.  Meldrum  J.  D.  Ward, 
and  K.  L.  Campbell.  The  situation  was  fill  13-  dis- 
cussed, and  it  was  found  that  if  Meldrum  should 
throw  his  vote  to  Campbell  the  latter  would  lack 
but  six  or  seven  votes  of  a  nomination.  It  was 
known  that  Fremont  county  would  deliver  its 
vote  in  return  for  the  warden  ship  of  the  peniten- 
tiary, and  that  it  would  be  cast  for  any  candidate 
whom  that  vote  was  sufficient  to  nominate.  With 
this  understanding-  the  part3r  separated.  Mr. 
Chaffee  was  advised  of  the  arrangement,  and  be- 
fore the  convention  assembled  the  next  morning- 
it  was  reported  that  Meldrum  had  withdrawn 
ironi  the  race. 

When  the  convention  was  called  to  order  it  was 
seen  that  it  was  dominated  b3T  the  "Windmill" 
faction,  but  the  Wolcott  forces  were  compact, 
alert  and  enthusiastic,  and  went  into  the  coven- 
tion  with  a  confident  determination  which  in- 
spired those  of  the  opposition  not  behind  the 
scenes  with  a  wholesome  fear  of  the  result.  Gov- 
ernor Routt,  as  chairman  of  the  state  committee, 
called  the  convention  to  order,  and  C.  W.  Tank- 
ers^7, the  *'  Windmill  "  candidate  for  chairman, 
was  elected  by  the  decisive  vote  of  211  to  106. 

But  this  did  not  settle  the  fight  b3^  an}^  means, 
for  while  Willard  Teller,  who  had  secured  a 
proxy  from  Saguache  count3r,  T.  M.  Bowen,  J.  D. 
Ward,  and  other  prominent  "  Windmill  "  leaders, 
set  the  pace  for  their  followers,  Ed  Wolcott,  Ham- 
ill,  John  McNeele3^,  and  a  strong  backing  of  less- 


A   BRILLIANT   CONTEST  i.) 

er  lights  were  equally  in  evidence,  and  by  their 
sharp  retorts,  brilliant  speeches,  and  clever 
handling-  of  a  hopeless  fight,  made  one  of  the 
most  interesting-  conventions  ever  held  in  Colo- 
rado, 

Bowen  narrowly  escaped  missing-  the  opening- 
session.  The  conductor  of  the  train  refused  to 
hold  it  a  few  minutes  at  Del  Norte  for  the  Rio 
Grande  county  delegation.  A  hand  car  was 
seized,  and  relieving  each  other  at  the  levers,  the 
delegates  followed  along  two  or  three  miles  be- 
hind the  flying1  train  until  they  caught  a  locomo- 
tive at  a  siding,  which  they  pressed  into  service, 
overtaking  the  train  at  Alamosa. 

The  committee  on  credentials  submitted  the 
Arapahoe  contest  to  the  convention  without  re- 
commendation, and  Willard  Teller  moved  the  ad- 
mission of  the  contestants.  A  stormy  discussion 
ensued,  during  which  Kd  Wolcott  created  con- 
siderable amusement  b}r  referring  to  Mr.  Teller 
as  "the  gentleman  from  Saguache,"  but  the  con- 
vention decided,  by  a  vote  of  220  to  91,  not  to  go 
behind  the  proceedings  of  the  county  conven- 
tion, and  the  Wolcott  delegates  retained  their 
seats. 

The  first  ballot  showed  that  the  combination 
of  the  previous  night  was  a  success.  It  resulted 
—Wolcott  106,  Campbell  149,  Maxwell  32,  Katon  19, 
John  J.  Henry  5.  Campbell  lacked  7  of  a  majori- 
ty.  On  the  second  ballot  one  vote  from  Bent 
county  went  from  Wolcott  to  Campbell.  There 
were  no  further  changes  until  Fremont  was 
reached,  when  its  seven  votes  were  transferred 


76  CAMPBELL  NOMINATED 

to  Campbell,  insuring-  his  nomination.  Other 
slight  changes  followed,  and  at  the  close  the  vote 
stood— Wolcott  305,  Campbell  169,  Maxwell  20, 
Katon  15,  Henry  2.  For  congress,  Belford  receiv- 
ed 223  votes  to  88  for  all  others,  and  the  other 
places  011  the  ticket  were  filled  on  the  same  lines. 
As  Wolcott's  defeat  was  attributed  in  great  mea- 
sure to  ex-Senator  ChafTee,  Hamill  considered  him 
the  proper  person  for  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee, and  accordingly  nominated  him  for  that 
position. 

The  convention  had  hardly  adjourned  before 
rumors  of  a  bolt  for  which  there  was  no  shadow 
of  an  excuse,  became  prevalent.  The  conven- 
tion was  absolutely  fair,  and  against  Wolcott 
from  the  start.  Mr.  Wolcott's  friends  hadnoth 
ing-  to  complain  of,  and  remained  in  the  con- 
vention to  the  close.  The}-  were  accorded  every 
courtes}-,  and  Mr.  Sparnick,  in  putting  Wolcott 
in  nomination  had  promised  the  united  support 
of  the  Wolcott  interest  to  the  nominee  of  the  con- 
vention, whoever  he  might  be.  This  pledge  was 
openly  violated,  and  within  a  week  it  w^as  appa- 
rent that  Mr.  Hill  and  the  Wolcotts  were  perfect- 
ing- an  organization  for  the  defeat  of  Campbell. 
It  was  seriously  charged  that  he  was  a  Democrat, 
and  should  he  be  elected  the  administration  of 
the  state  would  be  in  the  hands  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  T.  M.  Patterson.  The  absurdity  of  this  claim 
is  apparent  toda}7,  but  in  the  then  heated  condi- 
tion of  both  factions  it  passed  current  and  was 
doubtless  effective  in  causing  the  loss  of 
votes  that  Campbell  should  have  received. 


WOLCOTTS   ORGANIZE   A   BOLT  77 

It  was  expected  by  some,  at  the  time,  that  Sen- 
ator Hill  would  repudiate  the  scheme  of  the  VVol- 
cott  following-.  A  number  of  his  warmest  friends 
and  political  supporters  urged  him  repeatedly  to 
announce  himself  as  earnestly  supporting-  the 
ticket,  but  he  remained  silent  to  his  own  political 
detriment.  At  a  conference  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Wolcott  party,  at  which  Senator  Hill  was  present, 
General  Hamill  was  urged  to  join  the  bolt  and 
flatly  refused.  He  used  his  best  endeavors  to 
persuade  his  associates  to  forego  their  intentions 
without  success,  and  declaring-  his  determination 
to  support  the  entire  ticket  with  all  the  energy  he 
possessed  he  denounced  the  scheme  in  the  most 
emphatic  language,  and  left  the  conference  to  g-o 
at  once  to  Mr.  Chaffee  and  inform  him  of  the  plot, 
and  at  the  same  time  extend  him  the  most  impor- 
tant financial  and  personal  assistance,  until  the 
end  of  the  campaign  he  was  Mr.  Chaffee's  most 
trusted  lieutenant.  Subsequently  he  at  one  time 
very  nearly  persuaded  Ed.  Wolcott  to  give  the 
ticket  his  earnest  support,  but  the  opposing  in- 
fluences were  too  strong. 

The  Democratic  convention  met  in  Denver  on 
September  21.  The  name  of  J.  B.  Grant  had  been 
put  forward  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination, 
and  was  received  with  so  much  enthusiasm  that 
he  was  nominated  by  acclamation.  S.  S.  Wallace 
of  Las  Animas  county  was  nominated  for  con- 
gress. 

The  Republican  supported  the  ticket  in  a  half- 
hearted way,  the  Tribune  openly  supported  Grant 
and  the  Times  fought  vigorously  for  the  whole 


78  THE  CAMPAIGN 

ticket.  The  necessit}7  for  a  morning-  Republican 
paper  that  was  above  the  suspicion  of  treacher}', 
or  association  with  those  who  were  endeavoring1 
to  defeat  the  head  of  the  ticket,  soon  became  ap- 
parent, and  Mr.  Hamill  established  a  campaign 
paper  called  the  Refiublicin-Jnirnal,  under  the  ed- 
itorial management  of  Mr.  John  Carson,  then 
chief  of  the  Washing-ton  bureau  of  the  New  York 
Times.  The  paper  was  pri.ited  in  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Denver  Times  and  did  good  service 
during  the  campaign,  Mr.  Hamill  bearing  the  en- 
tire expense  of  the  enterprise. 

Mr^Chaffee  opened  headquarters  on  Larimer 
street,  diagonally  across  from  the  Cheesman 
block.  D.  C.  Oswald,  chairman  of  the  Arapahoe 
county  committee  occupied  a  room  in  connection 
with  the  state  committee  rooms,  and  it  was  rep- 
resented to  Mr.  Chaffee  that  Mr.  Oswald  was 
merely  a  spy  for  the  bolters,  and  would  report 
every  act  of  the  committee  to  them,  but  Mr.  Chaf- 
fee treated  the  suggestion  lightly,  stating  that 
the  county  convention  had  chosen  Oswald;  that 
the  relations  of  the  two  committees  were  neces- 
sarily close,  and  that,  as  chairman  of  the  state 
committee  he  could  not  refuse  to  recognize  the 
duly  accredited  agent  of  the  Arapahoe  county 
Republicans.  Oswald  protested  that  he  was  act- 
ing with  perfect  fairness,  but  he  was  suspected, 
and  his  influence  with  the  supporters  of  the  tick- 
et counted  for  little. 

But  with  all  this  treachery  it  is  not  probable 
that  Campbell  would  have  been  defeated  had  it 
not  been  for  the  crowning  act  of  this  campaign 


THE  BOGUS  TICKET  79 

on  the  part  of  the  bolters.     The  printing-  of  the 
tickets  for  Arapahoe  county  was  left  to   Oswald, 
but  for  the  majority  of  the  other  counties  of  the 
state  the  tickets  were  provided  by  the  state  com- 
mittee.   Fearing-  treachery,  Mr.  Chaffee  caused  a 
design  to  be  engraved  wjhich  was  printed  in   a 
tint  on   the  face   of  the    ticket,  the   names   of  the 
candidates   being   printed   over    the   tint.      This 
work  was  done  at  the  Times  office,  and  during  the 
process  of  printing,  the  press  was  watched  b}^  a 
representative   of  the   state    committee.       Every 
spoiled  sheet  was  burned   as   it   came   from    the 
press;  the  sheets  were  counted  before  and  after- 
printing,  and  the   cutting  was  closely  watched. 
As  soon  as  the  tickets  were  completed  the  plates 
were  taken  from  the  press  and  handed  to  George 
T.  Clark,  who  locked  them  up  in  a  safe  where  the 
original  engraving  was  already  deposited.     It  is 
absolutely  certain  that  not  a  ticket  left  the  Times 
office  that  was  not  delivered  to  the  state  commit- 
tee, and  the  tickets  were  not  sent  to  the  several 
counties  until  there  was  barel}r  time  for  them  to 
reach  their  destination  in  time  for  the   election. 
In  spite  of  all  these  precautions  however,  the  tint 
engraving  was  counterfeited  and  the  state  flood- 
ed  with   bogus   Republican  tickets  bearing   the 
names  of  J.  B.  Grant  for  Governor,  and  S.  S.  Wal- 
lace for  congress.    There  is  no  doubt  that  these 
bogus  tickets  were  mainly  instrumental  in  caus- 
ing the   defeat  of  Campbell.    The   trick   was   as 
shrewd  as  it  was  unprincipled,  and  the  perpetra- 
tors received   all  the  credit  to   which  they   were 
entitled.    They  were  certainly  successful. 


80  CAMPBELL   DEFEATED 

The  bolt,  so  strongly  backed,  and  so  unscru- 
pulously inaugurated  and  sustained,  resulted  in 
the  defeat  of  Campbell  b}r  2735  majority.  Bel- 
ford's  pluralit3r  of  2313  in  1833  was  pulled  down 
to  1767,  and  Judge  Helm,  who  was  also  opposed 
by  the  bolters,  was  elected  to  the  supreme  bench 
over  the  late  Vincent  D.  Markham,  by  but  567  ma- 
jority. 

In  Arapahoe  count}7,  where  the  bolters  had 
the  most  thorough  organization,  Campbell  and 
Belford  were  both  defeated,  while  the  only  in- 
stance of  retaliation  was  in  the  case  of  John  P. 
Kinneavy,  nominated  for  representative,  who  was 
defeated  by  Vandenburg.  The  rest  of  the  ticket 
in  Arapahoe  county  was  elected  by  majorities 
ranging  from  a  few  votes  to  two  hundred. 

When  the  legislature  assembled  it  was  found 
that  the  Republican  majority  of  37  on  joint  bal- 
lot, of  two  }rears  before,  had  been  cut  down  to  25. 

The  senatorial  campaign  was  as  warm  as  that 
of  the  state,  though  conducted  on  somewhat  dif- 
ferent lines.  Mr.  Patterson  was  the  nominee  of 
the  Democrats  for  the  long  tenn,  and  J.  B.  Orman 
of  Pueblo  for  the  short  term.  The  Republicans 
were  several  weeks  in  coming  to  a  decision. 
Bowen,  Pitkin,  Tabor,  Hamill,  Routt  and  Hallett 
were  all  in  the  field  for  the  long  term.  Had  Pit- 
kin  appointed  either  Bowen  or  Routt  to  fill  the 
vacancy  occasioned  by  the  appointment  of  Teller 
to  the  cabinet  he  would  have  stood  some  chance 
of  election.  But  Tabor  and  Bowen  joined  forces 
for  his  defeat,  leaving  their  own  chances  to  be 
decided  later.  For  the  short  term  Weston,  of 


HOWKX   KLKCTKl)  SKXATOK  81 

Lake,  George  M.  Chilcott,  and  Clarence  P.  Klder 
were  candidates.  The  Republican  caucus  con- 
tinued twent3r-tvvo  cla3's,  but  from  the  first  it  was 
apparent  that  the  outcome  la}'  between  Hamill 
and  Bowen.  Neither  Tabor  nor  Pitkin  gained 
materially,  while  Routt  and  Hallett  received  but 
a  few  votes  each.  The  result  was  that  near  the  end 
of  the  session  T.  M.  Bowen  was  nominated  for 
the  long  and  H.  A.  W.  Tabor  for  the  short  term 
of  about  thirty  days.  Both  were  elected  by  a 
strict  party  vote. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1882. 

CONGRESS. 

47th  ( 'ongress  — J.  15.  Belford 30,847    S   Wallace 29,080 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

...28,620    James  B.  Grant.... 


..31,493  J.  W.  Prowers 

..32,418    F.  C.  Johnson 

.  31,045  Dennis  Sullivan. . . . 

. .  3  1 ,790    Ansel  Watson   

. .  32,.'41  B.  F.  Montgomery . 


Governor— E.  L.  Campbell... 
Lt-Gov.  — Wm.  H.  Meyer.  . 
Secy  Sr,'e— Melvin  Edwards 
Treas.  — Fred  Walsen  .... 

Auditor  — J.  C    Abbott 

Atty  Gen— D.  F.  Urmy 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

— J.  C.  Shattuck 32,410    F.  M.  Brown. .   . 

Regents  of  the  University 

— James  Rice 32.427    .J.  A.  Van  An  ken 

— L.  S.  Cornell 32,001 

JUDICIARY. 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 


.31,355 
.28,442 
.27,807 
.28,930 
.28,624 
,.2*,054 

.27,920 
.27,921 


—  Joseph  C.  Helm  
Dit-trict  Judges 
1st  Dist.  —  C.  C.  Carpenter  

.  .30,335 
...4513 

V.  D.  Markham.... 
II.  B.  Morse. 

.  29,81  U 
3831 

2d       "     —Victor  A.  Elliott,  .... 
;5k       "     —  T.  T.  Player  
4th     "      —  P.  J.  Coston 

..  1:;.>M 
...2929 
.  .  3020 

No  opposition 
Caldwell  Yeaman.. 
Win.  Harrison 

.  .  .  39f  5 
3280 

f>th*  "     —J.  B.  Bissell  
5th     «•     —J.  B.  Bissell  

.  ..4(«»2 
.  ..3814 

Jas.   V.  Marshall... 
L.  M.  Goddard 

..  .4673 

5<I7.~, 

6th*   "      —  C.  D.  Bradle  .. 
6th     "     —  C.  D.  Hayt  
7t.h*   "     —  0.  W.  B  arris  
7th     "      —  (•;,   \y.  Burris     

.  ..359.' 

...:HU 
...3754 
..3896 

Adair  Wilson  
J.  T.Cox  
Thomas  (.1.  Brown. 
M.  B.  Gerry. 

...2836 
...2»-*7 
...2W2 

435(1 

District  Attorneys 
1st  Dist.f—  J  •  McD.  Livesay  
1st     "     —J.  McD.  Livesay  —  ,. 
2d      '•      —Herman  E.  Luthe  — 
:id      "      -E.  J.  Maxwell  
4th:£  4k      —  C  C   Holbrook. 

.    .  H57 
...6293 
...7175 
...3W5 
3379 

No  opposition. 
No  opposition. 
James  A.  Dawson.  . 
C.  J.  Hart  
M    J    Bartley 

...6716 
...3104 
'^73 

4th    "     —  Chas.  A.  Wilkin  

.  ..374>* 

Scattering  

...2422 

:?N"ew  districts  created  by  the  Third  General  Assembly.  Elec- 
tion held  at  the  general  election  in  1881.  Officers  held  until  gene- 
ral election  in  1882. 

fTo  till  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  II.  M.  Orahood.  Elec- 
tion held  in  1881.  To  hold  till  general  election  in  1882  . 

JTo  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  C.  W.  Burris.  Elec- 
tion held  in  1881.  To  hold  till  general  election  of  1X82. 


OFFICIAL    V ( >T K    1  SX'_J      C( )XT  1  XUE1>  83 

District  Attorneys- -Con tinned 

">th*  "     — John  W.  Jenkins 4444  T.  L.  Clark 429.") 

.~>th     "     — Wm.  Kellogg 5217  J.  M .  Downing 4570 

6th*  "     — C   D.  Ha.vt 3610  B.  F.  Montgomery ....  277N 

«th     "     —  M.  S.  Adams 4022  R.  K.  Hagan 27  W 

7r.li*  "      -Frank  C.  Goudy 3988  H.  O.  Montague  .....  1401 

7tli     "     -  C.  W.  Rood 4161  R.  A.  French 40 'W 

FOURTH  GENERAL   ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 

President  pro  teni.—  Rienzi  Streoter.    Secretary — Reuben  Berry. 


1st  Dist. 

—  Jamos  M.  Freeman 

llth  ik 

—  C.  C.  Parsons 

2d     " 

—  H.  E.  Tedmoii 

-C.  L.  Hall 

3d      " 

—  Rienzi  Streeter 

—A.  S.  Weston 

4th    " 

—  Jos.  W.  Bostwick 

12th  " 

—  H.  H.  Eddy 

5th    ki 

—  II.  S.  Kearney 

13th  " 

—  Jas.  R.  Robinson 

<>th    li 

—  J.  S.  Stanger 

14th  " 

—James  Moynahan 

—  M.  W.  Howard 

15th  " 

-J.  H.  Stead 

—Frank  Tilford 

16th  4k 

—  Aldridge  ('order 

—  C.  P.  Elderf 

17th  " 

—A.  J.  Rising 

7th    4i 

—A.  H.  De  France 

18th  - 

—  Casimero  Barela 

8th    " 

—  Irving  Howbert 

19th  " 

—A.  A.  Salazar 

9th  Dist 

.  -L.  W  Wells 

20th  " 

—John  A.  Gale 

10th  " 

—  Frank  T.  Cochrane 

21st  " 

James  P.  Galloway 

HOUSE   OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 

Speaker— E.  W.  Davis  Clerk— R.  M.  Stevenson 

Arapahoe     — A.  E.  Pierce  Gilpin       —John  Angnin 
— S.  H.  Ballard  — J,  W.  Drips 

— L.  A.  Curtice  Grand  & 

—Edward  Pisko  Routt        —John  LaFevre 

— J.  W  Shackleford  Gunnison  & 

-Geo.  T.  Clark  Pitkin       — J,  E.  Mclntyre 

—James  H.  Kirk  Hinsdaie  — D.  S.  Hoffman 

—  Geo.  C.  Sample  Huerfano— Tomas  Rivera 

Bent  — H.  S.  Holly  Jefferson  —Henry  Lee 

Boulder        — C.  A.  Clarke  -W.  Perrin 


*New  districts  created  by  the  Third  General  Assembly.  Elec- 
tion held  at  the  general  election  in  1881.  Officers  held  until  the 
general  election  in  1882. 

^Elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  E.  P.  Ja- 
cobson. 


S4 


FOURTH    GKXEKAI,    ASSEMBLY 


<  Hear  ( 'rofj 

Conejos 
Chaffee 
Costilla 
Custer 

Douglas 
Elbert 
El  Paso 

Fremont 

Ouray  <fc 
Dolores 


-W.  H.  H.  Walker 
— O.  F.  A.  Greene 
k— F.  F.  Osbiston 
—Samuel  A.  King 
—A.  D.  Archuleta 
— W.  H.  Jones 
— Richard  Darling 
— B.  F.  Baldwin 
— E.  J.  Haskell 
— J.  H.  Craig 
— M.  R.  Chapman 
-C.D.  Ford 
-J.  H.  Kerr 
— B.  F.  Rockafellow 

— J.  R.  Letcher 


Lake         — S.  R.  Blonger 
—P.  W.  Breene 
— M.  J.  Costello 
— E.  W.  Davis 
La  Plata— M.  J.  McCloskey 
Larimer  — A.  S.  Benson 
Las  Animas — V.  Abeyta 
— E.  B.  Sopris 
Park          —A.  Bergh 
Pueblo      —James  B.  Orman 

—A.  Royal 

Rio  Grande — T.  M.  Bowen 
Saguache— Otto  Mean* 
San  Juan— T.  M.  Tripp« 
Summit    — B.  H.  Butcher 
Weld         -R.J.VanValkenburg 


IN  many  respects  the  preliminar}^  cam- 

1884:  Pai^n  of  1884:  was  the  turnin^  point  in 
the  history  of  the  Republican  party  of 
Colorado.  During-  the  preceding-  four  years  the 
party  had  been  torn  with  the  internal  dissensions 
resulting-  from  the  differences  between  Senators 
Teller  and  Hill,  which  had  reached  a  point  at 
which  there  were  grave  reasons  for  the  fear  that 
the  prevailing-  lack  of  harmony  would  result  in 
turning  the  state  over  to  the  Democracy.  The 
adherents  of  both  senators  were  so  earnest  in 
their  so-called  loyalty  to  each  that  in  many  in- 
stances they  considered  the  success  of  their  re- 
spective chiefs  as  of  more  importance  than  the 
success  of  the  party.  This  feeling  permeated 
every  grade  of  political  life  to  such  an  extent 
that  a  candidate  for  the  nomination  for  constable 
was  supported  or  politically  damned  according 
to  his  predilections  in  favor  of  one  side  or  the 
other.  It  was  difficult  in  some  cases  to  deter- 
mine which  side  was  best  for  the  well-being-  of 
the  party,  so  far  as  minor  nominations  were  con- 
cerned, and  frequently  g-ood  men  were  opposed 
for  no  other  reason  than  that  they  had  been  mem- 
bers of  one  of  the  factions.  The  defeat  of  Camp- 
bell, two  years  before,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  circumstances  which  subsequently  arose 
were  pointed  to  as  affording  a  justification  for 
that  defeat,  had  left  an  exceedingly  bitter  feeling 


86 

among*  Mr.  Teller's  friends,  and  had  stimulated 
them  to  the  most  earnest  efforts  to  secure  the  su- 
premacy of  their  faction  if  such  a  thing*  was  pos- 
sible. With  this  end  in  view  careful  preparations 
had  been  made  for  the  opening-  of  the  campaign. 
It  was  felt  that  if,  with  the  senatorial  contest  of 
1885  pending,  the  Teller  faction  was  defeated,  it 
would  definitely  end  Mr.  Teller's  pre-eminence  in 
the  politics  of  the  state,  and  therefore  everything 
was  staked  on  the  issue  of  this  campaign.  Thin 
feeling,  a  corresponding  feeling  on  the  part  of 
the  other  side  of  the  controversy,  and  the  conse- 
quent activity  on  both  sides,  simply  intensified 
the  bitterness  between  the  factions,  and  long  be- 
fore the  state  convention  both  parties  were 
worked  up  to  a  white  heat. 

On  the  part  of  Mr.  Hill's  friends  there  was  no 
attempt  to  disguise  the  factional  character  of  the 
contest.  Mr.  Hill's  term  in  the  senate  expired  on 
March  4,  1885,  and  he  desired  a  re-election,  conse- 
quently the  preliminary  canvass  was  made  with 
the  avowed  purpose  of  returning  Senator  Hill. 

As  in  1882,  Arapahoe  count}'  was  the  key  of 
the  situation,  and  was  the  scene  of  strenuous  ef- 
forts on  the  part  of  both  factions.  In  1883  George 
H.  Graham  had  been  elected  sheriff  of  the  county 
against  the  vigorous  and  determined  opposition 
of  the  Hill  wing  of  the  party.  The  campaign  was 
one  of  great  bitterness,  as  the  friends  of  Senator 
Hill  had  been  entirel}'  ignored  in  the  selection  of 
candidates,  and  mutual  criminations  and  recrim- 
inations had  been  indulged  to  such  an  extent 
that  although  ever}'  candidate  on  the  ticket  was 


THE  CONTKvST  IN   AKAPAHOK  87 

elected  by  fair  majorities,  Mr.  Graham  canning 
all  except  six  of  the  county  precincts,  the  result 
\ras  not  accepted  as  final,  and  the  Blill  faction 
went  into  the  contest  with  a  vigorous  and  deter- 
mined organization. 

The  primaries  were  held  on  August  21,  and  the 
county  convention  on  the  23d.  Governor  Routt 
had  supported  Wolcott  in  1882,  but  this  year,  in- 
spired by  the  hope  of  the  succession  to  the  sena- 
torial mantle,  was  a  vigorous  opponent  of  Sena- 
tor Hill,  and  threw  himself  into  the  canvass  with 
an  ardor  that  excelled  all  his  previous  efforts  in 
Colorado  politics.  Mr.  Tabor  also,  with  the  pos- 
sibilit}^  of  the  nomination  for  governor  before 
him.  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Teller  faction, 
and  was  an  important  factor  in  the  Arapahoe 
county  contest.  These  expectations  were  entire- 
ly reasonable.  Mr.  Teller  had  for  some  time  been 
seriously  considering  the  advisability  of  retiring 
from  political  life,  and  had  recently  announced 
his  definite  purpose  to  withdraw  from  politics 
at  the  close  of  the  administration.  During  the 
preceding  eight  years  he  had  enjoyed  a  distinc- 
tion rarely  accorded  to  public  men  in  so  brief  a 
period,  and  could  well  afford  to  retire  to  private 
life  and  the  practise  of  his  profession,  in  which 
his  political  career  would  be  a  great  advantage. 
In  such  an  event,  there  was  every  reason  to  an- 
ticipate the  election  of  Governor  Routt,  in  view 
of  his  eminent  services  to  the  Teller  side,  should 
that  side  prove  successful.  Mr.  Tabor  also  had 
every  reason  to  expect  the  solid  support  of  the 
Teller  men  of  the  convention  in  his  aspirations 


88  THE  A  RAP  A  HOE  CONVENTION 

toward  the  gubernatorial  nomination.  As  a  con- 
sequence of  these  arrangements  the  contest  in 
Arapahoe  count}'  was  between  Routt  and  Hill. 
When  the  results  of  the  primaries  were  known  it 
was  claimed  by  the  Hill  side  that  they  had  79 
delegates  and  Routt  68,  while  nine  from  the  coun- 
try precincts  were  in  doubt.  On  the  other  hand 
It  was  claimed  by  the  Routt  faction  that  it  had 
been  defrauded  in  the  second  ward;  that  the 
Routt  men  had  really  carried  the  ward  by  5  or  6 
majority;  that  on  a  recount  the  ward  had  been 
given  to  Hill  fraudulently,  and  that  there  were 
also  good  grounds  for  a  contest  in  the  first  ward. 
The  questions  involved  were  therefore  subjects 
for  the  consideration  of  the  credentials  commit- 
tee, and  of  course  the  temporar}r  organization  of 
the  count}*  convention  became  a  matter  of  para- 
mount importance.  The  machinery  of  the  party 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  Hill  faction,  with  C.  O- 
Xiegenfiiris  as  chairman  of  the  county  committee, 
and  the  Routt  men  argued  that  they  could  not 
hope  for  justice  in  the  preliminary  organization, 
and  that  the  only  wa\-  to  secure  a  fair  hearing 
was  to  capture  the  organization  of  the  convention. 
At  a  caucus  of  the  Routt  delegates  held  at  the 
court  house  on  the  evening  previous  to  the  meet- 
ing of  the  convention,  Hon.  Amos  Steck  was  cho- 
sen as  chairman  of  the  convention,  and  another 
caucus  called  to  meet  at  Lincoln  hall,  the  place 
appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  at 
an  early  hour  on  the  following  morning.  When 
the  delegates  assembled  in  the  morning  it  was 
announced  that  Judge  Steck  had  declined  the 


THE  CONVENTION  SPLITS  89 

chairmanship,  and  Mr.  Louis  Dugal  promptly 
moved  the  selection  of  Mr.  Joseph  Williams.  Mr. 
Williams  had  been  one  of  the  Hill  managers  in 
1882,  but  had  condemned  the  bolt  of  that  year,  and 
now  occupied  a  similar  position  with  the  Routt 
interest.  At  the  hour  appointed  for  the  meeting 
of  the  convention  the  Routt  men  were  all  present, 
and  the  chairman  of  the  county  committee  not 
having  arrived  the  convention  was  called  to  or- 
der by  Arthur  Kellogg,  secretary  of  the  commit- 
tee, the  call  for  the  convention  read,  and  the  con- 
vention organized  by  the  selection  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liams as  chairman.  Soon  afterward  Mr.  Ziegen- 
fuss  arrived  and  found  the  convention  organized 
against  him.  He  protested  that  the  hour  had  not 
arrived,  that  the  Routt  men  had  occupied  the 
hall  all  night;  and  that  the  organization  effected 
was  illegal,  but  he  soon  perceived  the  hopeless- 
ness of  his  case,  the  Routt  delegates  insisting 
that  it  was  past  the  hour.  The  question  seemed 
to  be  entirely  one  of  time,  with  no  allowance  for 
a  difference  in  watches.  Mr.  Ziegenfuss,  after 
some  farther  parle}7,  announced  that  he  would 
call  the  convention  to  order  in  another  place,  and 
withdrew,  thus  putting  himself  and  his  friends 
in  the  position  of  bolters.  It  is  useless  to  den} 
that  the  organization  at  Lincoln  hall  was  a  piece 
of  political  sharp  practice.  It  is  equally  certain 
that  by  meeting  at  the  place  mentioned  in  the 
call  the  Routt  men  gained,  and  by  organizing 
there  retained,  an  important  technical  advantage. 
Kach  convention  nominated  a  full  county  ticket; 
and  selected  its  own  delegates  to  the  state  con- 


00  THB   8TATE   CONVENTION 

vention,  the  Hill  men  basing-  their  claims  to  rec- 
ognition on  the  grounds  that  they  were  kept  out 
of  Lincoln  hall  b}^  force;  that  the  Routt  men  had 
organized  before  the  time  fixed  b}-  the  call,  and 
that  the  usages  of  the  party  had  been  departed 
from  in  the  organization  before  the  delegates  had 
been  legalljr  called  to  order  by  the  chairman  of 
the  county  committee,  the  only  legalty  constitut- 
ed authority  for  the  performance  of  that  dutj^. 

The  Lincoln  hall  delegates  claimed  that  they 
were  on  hand  at  the  time  and  place  appointed, 
and  that  if  the  other  side  was  not  there  it  could 
blame  no  one  but  the  delinquents.  Kach  conven- 
tion claimed  to  have  a  majority  of  the  delegates 
duly  elected. 

The  interval  before  the  meeting  of  the  state 
convention  was  occupied  by  both  parties  in  the 
making  of  mutual  charges  and  counter  charges, 
denials  and  explanations.  In  the  course  of  the 
controversy  Mr.  Ziegenfuss  wrote  a  letter  in 
which  he  stated  that  the  matter  would  be  decided 
by  the  state  convention,  and  that  he  and  the  fac- 
tion he  represented  would  cheerfully  acquiesce 
in  that  decision. 

The  state  convention  met  at  Colorado  Springs 
on  September  10,  and  from  the  first  it  was  evident 
that  the  battle  between  the  contending  factions 
would  be  decisive.  The  hotels  were  thronged 
several  days  before  the  convention,  the  Routt  men 
establishing  headquarters  at  the  Antlers,  while 
the  Hill  forces  were  directed  from  the  Antlers 
Annex. 

The  key  of  the  convention  was  the  credentials 


THE  ARAL*  A  HOE  CONTEST  91 

Committee,  as  beside  the  Arapahoe  contest,  there 
was  a  contest  of  a  similar  character  in  El  Paso 
and  one  or  two  smaller  counties.  The  selection 
of  General  Hamill  as  temporary  chairman  of  the 
convention  was  considered  a  victory  for  the  Routt 
forces,  though  the  peculiar  questions  involved 
in  the  contest  rendered  it  a  matter  of  serious 
doubt  as  to  the  result  of  the  hearing*  of  the  con- 
tests before  the  committee.  J.  L.  Hodges  was  ap- 
pointed chairman  of  the  committee. 

The  contest  before  the  committee  was  the  most 
earnest  and  exciting-  ever  held  in  the  state.  Kach 
side  was  represented  by  able  counsel,  W.  B.  Fel- 
ker  representing-  the  Routt,  and  Frank  C.  Goudy 
the  Hill  claimants.  Witnesses  were  examined, 
precedents  cited,  and  arg-uments  heard,  and  the 
committee  was  in  almost  continuous  session 
from  early  in  the  afternoon  until  3  a.  m.  of  the 
llth.  Pending  the  hearing  of  the  contesting 
delegations  the  convention  took  a  recess,  the  del- 
egates occupying  the  time  in  the  usual  trades 
for  state  officers,  etc. 

Upon  the  assembling-  of  the  convention  on 
the  morning  of  the  llth,  two  reports  were  sub- 
mitted. The  ground  had  been  g-one  over  thor- 
oughly by  both  sides,  but  the  arg-uments  were  so 
far  from  convincing  that  while  the  majority  re- 
port, signed  b}"  eight  members,  favored  the  seat- 
ing- of  the  Routt  delegates,  the  minority  report, 
signed  by  five  members,  was  fully  as  strongly  in 
favor  of  the  Plill  deleg-ation.  After  a  sharp  dis- 
cussion the  majority  report  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  191  to  98. 


92  ROUTT   MEN    WIN. 

While  the  result  of  this  contest  was  in  some 
sense  a  blow  to  Senator  Hill's  aspirations  toward 
a  return  to  the  senate,  it  was  by  no  means  deci- 
sive. The  real  question  at  issue  in  the  conven- 
tion was  not  so  much  whether  or  not  Mr.  Hill 
should  return  to  the  senate,  as  which  of  the 
contending  delegations  from  Arapahoe  count}" 
possessed  the  technical  right  to  seats  in  the  con- 
vention under  the  usages  of  the  party.  The  pre- 
cedent established  in  1882,  when  a  similar  ques- 
tion involving  the  legality  of  an  Arapahoe  coun- 
ty convention,  was  presented  to  the  State  con- 
vention, and  that  body  declined  to  go  behind 
the  returns  of  a  county  convention,  had  consid- 
erable influence  in  the  disposition  of  the  present 
case,  while  the  organization  of  the  Lincoln  hall 
convention  was  decided  on  the  ground  that  at 
the  time  of  his  leaving  the  place  which  he  had 
himself  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the  conven- 
tion, no  such  act  had  been  committed  as  to  justi- 
fy Chairman  Ziegenfuss  in  setting  up  the  claim 
of  fraud.  And  bej^ond  both  of  these  questions 
was  the  undeniable  fact  that  the  convention  was 
against  Senator  Hill,  though  there  were  doubt- 
less many  delegates  who  voted  for  the  majority 
report  on  purely  technical  grounds  who  would 
have  been  very  glad  to  see  Mr.  Hill  return  to  the 
senate.  In  fact,  throughout  this  unfortunate 
controversy  there  was  little,  if  any  criticism  of 
Mr.  Hill's  acts  as  a  senator.  It  was  conceded  by 
such  of  his  opponents  as  were  not  blinded  by 
prejudice  that  he  was  attentive  to  the  interests 
of  Colorado  and  to  the  wishes  of  his  conatitu 


THE   OBJECTIONS   TO  HILL  93 

ents.  No  one  questioned  his  ability,  or  that  he 
was  animated  by  the  sing-le  purpose  to  do  right 
by  the  state  and  the  people  of  Colorado.  His 
standing  in  Washington  was  of  the  highest,  his 
personal  character  was  beyond  question,  and 
there  was  no  good  reason  why  two  such  men  as 
Hill  and  Teller  should  not  have  continued  to 
represent  Colorado  in  the  senate  as  long  as  they 
chose  to  do  so.  It  was  Hill  the  politician  and 
not  Hill  the  Senator  who  was  so  severely  criti- 
cised by  so  many  of  the  Republicans  of  Colora- 
do. Senator  Hill  now  doubtless  recognizes  the 
fact,  which  was  then  patent  to  many,  that,  like 
many  men  in  high  political  position,  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  class  of  men  whose  only  interest 
in  his  success  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  purest 
selfishness.  As  one  of  them  said  at  the  time, 
they  were  "  in  it  for  what  there  was  in  it."  The 
system  of  rewards  and  punishments  is  a  neces- 
sary adjunct  of  political  warfare,  but  fealty  to 
the  party,  rather  than  to  the  personality  of  an 
official,  is  imperative.  Senator  Hill's  connection 
with  politics,  prior  to  his  election  as  senator,  had 
been  merely  occasional,  and  in  the  main  confined 
to  his  localit}',  and  while  he  had  been  always  lib- 
eral in  the  support  of  the  party  ticket,  he  had  not 
been  so  prominent  as  to  become  familiar  with  the 
devious  wa}rs  of  the  political  hold-up,  and  when, 
after  the  defeat  of  Wolcott  in  the  convention  of 
1882,  he  listened  to  the  advice  of  others,  and  per- 
mitted a  bolt  when  a  word  from  him  would  have 
prevented  it,  he  made  the  most  serious  political 
mistake  of  his  life.  A  large  number  of  his 


94  A   HOT  FIGHT   FOR   GOVERNOR 

friends  who  were  governed  by  principle  ranged 
themselves  against  him,  and  the  leeches  desert- 
ed him  as  soon  as  it  was  found  that  they  had  no 
more  to  expect  from  that  quarter. 

The  contests  in  El  Paso  and  other  counties 
were  decided  on  pnicticall}-  the  same  grounds, 
and  the  convention  settled  clown  to  the  business 
of  the  hour.  It  will  have  been  seen  that  the 
question  of  the  senatorial  succession  seemed  to 
dominate  all  others  at  Colorado  Springs,  and  still 
the  convention  could  only  settle  that  so  far  as 
the  selection  of  delegates  was  controlled  by  the 
same  parties  who  had  nominated  members  of  the 
legislature.  It  was,  even  after  the  defeat  of  the 
Hill  delegation  from  Arapahoe,  conceded  that 
Mr.  Hill  would  have  at  least  an  even  chance  in 
the  legislature.  But  the  report  of  the  credentials 
committee  set  aside  the  senatorial  question  for 
the  time  being,  and  on  taking  up  the  nomination 
of  the  state  ticket  it  was  found  that  the  nomina- 
tion of  candidates  had,  in  the  absorbing  ques- 
tions of  the  contests,  been  in  the  main  left  to  the 
candidates  themselves.  None  of  the  aspirants 
for  state  offices  was  so  especially  representative 
of  either  Hill,  Teller  orRoutt  that  his  nomination 
depended  in  an}r  sense  upon  the  result  of  the 
Arapahoe  contest.  Consequent!}^  the  fight  for 
honors  was  a  free  for  all  with  no  favors,  and  there 
has  never  been  a  convention  in  Colorado  in  which 
there  were  so  many  opportunities  for  trading. 

For  governor,  Tabor,  Eaton,  of  Weld,  Moyna- 
han,  of  Park,  and  W.  H.  Meyer,  of  Costilla,  were 
in  the  field.  For  congress,  Decker,  Town  send. 


EATON  NOMINATED  95 

Symes  and  Jackson  Orr,  then  of  San  Juan,  but 
recentty  Populist  candidate  for  mayor  of  Denver, 
were  candidates.  The  gubernatorial  contest  was 
fought  out  in  the  convention,  and  was  sharply 
pressed  by  all  the  aspirants.  There  was  no  fa- 
vorite, and  no  man  upon  whom  the  convention 
could  unite  as  the  best  for  the  place.  A  strong- 
effort  was  made  to  deliver  the  convention  to  Ta- 
bor as  per  agreement,  and  the  Arapahoe  delega- 
tion supported  him  loyally,  but  his  nomination 
was  an  impossibility,  and  an  attempt  to  deliver 
his  strength  to  Moynahan  was  equally  unsuc- 
cessful. The  Hill  following  supported  Meyer, 
and  this  fact  alone  prevented  him  from  drawing- 
any  appreciable  strength  from  the  Routt  side. 
Eaton  therefore  fell  heir  to  the  nomination  after 
his  competitors  had  been  killed  off  — the  result  of 
dogged  persistence  on  the  part  of  his  supporters. 
Following  are  the  ballots  in  their  order: 

Tabor        Meyer        Eaton     Moynahan 


First  

104  

107  . 

92  .. 

65 

Second  

108  .... 

110  . 

94  .. 

57 

Third  

107  .... 

106  . 

100  .. 

54 

Fourth  

105  

93  . 

115  .. 

50 

Fifth  

104  

106  . 

109  .. 

50 

Sixth  

104  .... 

107  . 

109  .. 

13 

Seventh  

110  

....  106  . 

107  .. 

46 

Eighth  

116  

.....  109  ., 

103  .. 

40 

Ninth  

123  

120  .. 

93  .. 

32 

Tenth  

114  

120  . 

108  .. 

27 

Eleventh  

105  ..... 

....  113  . 

119  .. 

31 

Twelfth  

102  ..... 

Ill  . 

132  .. 

23 

Thirteenth... 

107  

107  . 

136  .. 

23 

Fourteenth., 

45  

102    , 

117  .. 

104 

Fifteenth  

145  

104  . 

102  .. 

18 

Sixteenth  

102  

106  .. 

139  .. 

21 

Seventeenth. 

127  

.....  113  . 

20  .. 

109 

Eighteenth.. 

75  ...., 

85  ., 

200  •• 

9 

96  SYMES  FOR  CONGRESS 

The  congressional  contest  was  equally  inter- 
esting-, and  it  was  speedily  demonstrated  that  the 
fight  lay  between  Symes  and  Town  send.  The 
battle  was  fought  mainly  in  the  corridors  and 
rooms  of  the  Antlers.  Townsend  was  the  favor- 
ite at  first,  and  odds  were  freely  offered  that  he 
would  win.  Of  a  handsome  figure,  pleasant  in 
manner,  and  hail  fellow,  well  met,  he  smiled  his 
way  into  the  affections  of  the  delegates,  until  at 
one  time  he  had  very  nearly  captured  the  majori- 
ty, having  actually  received  pledges  sufficient  to 
insure  his  nomination.  Judge  Symes,  however, 
by  a  lucky  coup,  secured  the  solid  Lake  count}' 
delegation,  and  was  nominated  on  the  first  ballot- 

The  campaign  was  devoid  of  any  special  in- 
terest outside  of  Arapahoe  county.  Judge  Symes 
made  his  canvass  accompanied  by  K.  K.  Stimson 
and  Fred  Skiff,  giving  the  News  an  opportunity 
for  the  indulgence  of  the  pleasantry  of  naming 
the  trio  the  '*  S.  S.  S.  combination." 

In  Arapahoe  count}',  so  far  as  the  count}T  tick- 
et was  concerned,  the  convention  settled  nothing. 
The  letter  of  Chairman  Ziegenfuss,  promising 
acquiescence  in  the  decision  of  the  State  conven- 
tion was  entirely  ignored.  The  two  county  tick- 
ets remained  in  the  field,  while  both  sides  joined 
in  a  heated  discussion,  in  which  a  great  deal  was 
said  to  very  little  purpose,  and  the  merits  of  the 
controversy  so  completely  covered  with  vituper- 
ation and  abuse  that  the  case  was  considered 
hopeless  until  disinterested  Republicans  on  both 
sides  took  up  the  matter,  and  through  their  ef- 
forts a  plan  was  arranged,  whereby  the  settle- 


COMPROMISE    IN   ARAPAHOE  97 

merit  of  the  affair  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
committee  of  four  from  each  side,  with  full  pow- 
er to  effect  a  compromise.  The  Routt  side  was 
represented  by  H.  P.  Bennet,  W.  C.  Lolhrop,  I.  E- 
Barnum  and  W.  B.  Mills,  and  the  Hill  side  by  W. 
J.  Barker,  John  C.  Montgomery,  Robert  Morris 
and  C.  S.  Morey.  The  resignations  of  both  chair- 
men and  the  candidates  on  both  tickets  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  this  committee,  which  was 
authorized  to  make  up  a  full  ticket,  and  on  Octo- 
ber a  final  settlement  was  effected,  and  an  agree- 
ment entered  into  whereby  Alfred  Butters  was 
made  chairman  of  the  county  committee  while 
the  places  on  the  ticket  were  divided  fairly  be- 
tween the  two  factions. 

The  Democratic  convention  met  in  Denver  on 
September  24,  and  nominated  Alva  Adams  for 
governor,  Andrew  Wilson  for  lieutenant-govern- 
or and  C.  S.  Thomas  for  congress. 

The  effect  of  the  dissensions  was  vei\y  serious- 
ly felt  in  Arapahoe  countj^,  for  while  in  the  state 
Blaine  received  nearly  9300  plurality,  Symes  0726 
plurality,  and  Eaton  3132  plurality,  in  Arapahoe 
county,  polling  about  onerthird  the  vote  of  the 
state,  Blaine  received  but  1426,  Symes  but  998,  and 
Eaton  but  177  plurality. 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  it  was 
found  that  the  Republicans  had  18  senators  and 
35  representatives — a  majority  of  3)  on  joint  bal- 
lot. In  all  probability,  had  a  secret  ballot  been 
taken  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  session  Mr. 
Hill  would  have  polled  a  strong  vote  in  the  cau- 
cus. A  number  of  members  had  promised  him 


98  SENATORIAL  CONTEST 

that  they  would  vote  for  him  if  the}'  were  given 
an  opportunity  to  do  so  in  secret,  alleging  that 
they  were  afraid  to  do  so  openly  on  account  of 
threats  that  had  been  made  by  certain  important 
interests.  It  was  also  alleged  that  a  large  sum 
of  money  had  been  deposited  in  one  of  the  Den- 
ver banks  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  insuring 
the  defeat  of  Senator  Hill.  Whatever  influence 
these  rumors  may  have  had  upon  the  action  of 
members  is  of  course  problematical,  but  the  pop- 
ularit}'  of  Mr.  Teller  was  beyond  question,  and 
as  the  contest  was  regarded  as  peculiarly  his, 
and  he  was  represented  by  a  large  and  enthusias- 
tic following,  devoted  to  his  interests,  it  very 
soon  became  apparent  that  he  controlled  the  situ- 
ation. 

An  earnest  effort  was  made  to  elect  Governor 
Routt  in  accordance  with  the  understanding  pre- 
viously had.  Mr.  Teller  earnest^  desired  to  re- 
tire to  private  life  and  was  urgent  in  behalf  of 
Routt.  The  latter  had  been  of  the  greatest  assist- 
ance, both  to  the  Teller  interest,  and  to  the  party 
during  the  campaign,  and  was  fairty  entitled  to 
consideration  at  the  hands  of  the  party,  but  ev- 
ery effort  to  secure  his  nomination  in  caucus 
failed.  A  great  deal  of  anxiety  was  felt  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Teller's  friends,  as  there  were  serious 
reasons  for  the  belief  that  as  ag-ainst  any  other 
man  than  Teller  himself,  Hill  would  be  success- 
ful, and  it  was  not  until  several  days  had  elapsed 
that  the  Teller  interest  was  able  to  secure  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  votes  to  insure  success.  But 
nothing-  could  be  done  toward  the  election  of 


HILL   MEN    BOLT  99 

Routt,  and  Mr.  Teller,  who  was  in  Washington, 
was  sent  for,  and  soon  afterward  came  to  Denver. 

On  January  18  a  caucus  attended  by  the  53  Re- 
publicans was  held,  and  after  considerable  dis- 
cussion a  motion  was  made  that  the  voting  for 
candidates  should  be  by  secret  ballot.  This  mo- 
tion was  opposed  by  the  Teller  interest,  and  the 
proposition  was  defeated  by  two  votes,  Immedi- 
ately  after  the  announcement  of  the  result  of  this 
vote  15  of  the  adherents  of  Mr.  Hill  left  the  cau- 
cus. 

At  once  the  most  exciting  rumors  became 
prevalent.  It  was  alleged  that  Mr.  Hill  had  made 
a  coalition  with  the  Democrats;  that  in  the  event 
of  their  electing  him  he  would  act  with  the  Dem- 
crats  in  the  senate,  and  thus  turn  that  body  over 
to  the  Democracy,  there  being  but  one  Republi- 
can majority  in  the  senate  at  that  time;  that  if 
this  were  found  impracticable,  the  Democrats 
and  Hill  men  should  unite  and  elect  Judge  Hal- 
lett,  in  which  event  the  president  was  to  be  in- 
duced to  let  the  appointment  of  a  successor  to 
Hallett  remain  in  abeyance  until  the  accession 
of  Cleveland;  and  that,  if  neither  of  these  prop- 
ositions was  acceptable  a  Democrat  should  be 
elected.  Theie  are  too  many  absurdities  in  these 
alleged  propositions  to  entitle  them  to  serious 
consideration.  It  is  extremely  unlikely  that  Sen- 
ator Hill  ever  considered  it  possible  that  he 
would  be  able  to  secure  a  sufficient  number  of 
Democratic  votes  to  insure  his  own  election;  that 
he  could  carry  through  so  complicated  a  propo- 
sition as  the  election  of  Judge  Hallett,  with  the 


100  TELLER   ELECTED 

contingent  appointment  of  a  Democratic  j  udge 
or  that  he  could  turn  over  his  personal  following- 
to  the  Democrats,  with  the  certainty  of  such 
action  on  their  part  being-  followed  by  political' 
ostracism.  These  rumors,  therefore,  may  be  set 
down  as  the  offspring-  of  diseased  imaginations, 
unduly  heated  by  the  excitements  of  the  canvass. 

As  soon  as  it  became  apparent  that  Mr.  Teller 
alone  could  defeat  Mr.  Hill  strenuous  efforts  were 
made  to  induce  Mr.  Teller  to  accept.  It  was  with 
the  greatest  reluctance  that  he  acceded  to  what 
appeared  to  be  a  political  necessity.  He  not  only 
desired  to  return  to  private  life,  but  he  was  under 
obligations  to  assist  Governor  Routt  which  he 
was  anxious  to  fulfill.  It  was  only  when  he  waa 
afforded  the  most  convincing  proofs  of  the  im- 
possibilitj'-  of  electing  Routt,  and  Routt  himself 
admitted  the  hopelessness  of  his  own  case,  that 
Mr.  Teller  consented  to  have  his  name  go  before 
the  caucus.  The  effort  to  nominate  Routt  was 
honestly  and  earnestly  made,  and  it  failed  be- 
ceuse  there  was  never  a  time  during  the  session 
when  there  was  a  possibility  of  Routt's  election. 
Had  neither  Teller  nor  Hill  been  in  the  field,  it  is 
possible  that  Governor  Routt  might  have  grati- 
fied his  aspirations,  but  he  could  not  have  beaten 
Senator  Hill  even  in  an  assembly  so  strongly  op- 
posed to  Hill  a-s  the  fifth. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  truth  reg-arding 
Mr.  Hill's  alleged  negotiations  with  the  Demo- 
crats, another  caucus  was  held  on  January  20,  at 
which  Mr.  Teller  received  35  votes,  Mr.  Hill  17, 
and  Mr.  Tabor  1.  •  When  the  joint  session  assem- 


SOME  TALL  LYING  101 

bled  on  the  21st  Mr.  Hill  formally  withdrew  from 
the  contest  and  Mr.  Teller  was  elected,  receiving 
50  votes  to  20  for  Dennis  Sullivan,  3  for  Hallett 
and  one  for  Hill. 

The  event  seemed  to  justify  the  claims  of  Mr4 
Teller's  friends  that  the  legislature  was  for  him 
from  the  beginning,  but  there  was  so  much  false- 
hood and  double  dealing  in  this  canvass  that 
there  is  no  reason  for  doubting  the  assertion  of 
Mr.  Hill's  friends  that  he  had  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  personal  pledges  to  insure  him  a  majority 
of  fourteen.  It  is  certain  that  members  who  had 
been  nominated  and  elected  as  Teller  men  gave 
Mr.  Hill  reason  to  believe  that  they  would  vote 
for  him  in  the  final  outcome.  It  is  equally  cer- 
tain that  Senator  Hill  has  no  special  reason  for 
rejoicing  over  the  loyalty  of  many  of  his  pre 
tended  friends. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1884. 

PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

F.  F.  Osbiston 86,284    Casimero  Barela 

B,  F.  Crowell 36,257    James  B.  Grant 

Frank  C,  Goudy 36,290    Joseph  Doyle 

•CONGRESS. 

49th  Congress-G.  G.  Symes 35,446  C.  S.  Thomas 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— B.  H.  Eaton 33,845    Alva  Adams 

Lt-Gov.    — P.  W.  Breene 33,756    A.D.Wilson 

Secy  St'e— Melvin  Edwards  36,554    C.  O.  Unfug 

Treas.       — G.  R.  Swallow ...  36,496    T.  J.  Maloney 

Auditor  — H.  A.  Spruance 36,228  Ansel  Getrous  . . 

Atty  Gen— T.  H.  Thomas 35,839    H.  B.  Morse 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

— L.  Cornell 36,339  T.  R.  Palmer .  . . 

Regents  of  the  University 

— R,  W.  Woodbury 36,152  Geo.  W.  Rust 

— Clintnn  M.  Tyler 36.451  Wm.  W.  Cooley . 

— J.C.  Shattuck* 36,150  J.  M.  Hamrick*.. 

FIFTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 


,.27,722 

. 27,588 
. 27.569 


. . .  28,720 

...30,71:'. 
. . .  30,006 
...27,254 
...27,890 
..  .27,7:?:', 
...27,148 

...28,854 


28,004 
.  27,976 
..27,02* 


President  pro  tern.  James  Moynahan.         Secretary—  Geo.  T.  ("lark. 

1st  Dis 

jt.  —  James  M.  Freeman 

llth  Di 

st.—  C.'C.  Parsons 

2d     " 

—  H.E.  Tedmon 

-C.  L.  Hall 

3d     " 

—  O.  F.  A.  Green 

—John  T.  Elkins 

4th    " 

—Jos.  W.  Bostwick 

12th  " 

-H.  H.  Eddy 

5th    " 

—  Thomas  Cornish 

13th  " 

—  Jas,  R.  Robinson 

•>th    %i 

—  M.  W.  Howard 

14th  " 

—James  Moynahan 

—Frank  Tilford 

15th  " 

-J.  H.  Stead 

—A.  W.  Waters 

16th  " 

—Geo.   M    Chilcott 

—  M.  B.  Carpenter 

17th  " 

—  A.  J.  Rising 

7th    " 

—Henry  Lee 

18th  - 

—  Cas'mero  Barela 

8th   " 

—  Irving  Howbert 

19th  " 

—A.  A.  Salazar 

9th  " 

-L.1W7.  Wells 

20th  " 

—  A.  D.  Archuleta 

10th  " 

-G.  M.  Woodworth 

21st  " 

—James  P.  Galloway 

*To  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  J.  C.  Shattuck, 


FIFTH    GENERAL   ASSEMBLY 


103 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Speaker— T.  B.  Stuart 
Arapahoe     —John  K.  Ashley 
—John  S.  Dormer 
— H.  V.  A.  Ferguson 
— R.  Gilmore 
— Geo.  F.  Hodge 
— Geo.  H.  Kohn 
— T.  B.  Stuart 
—  Henry  Suess 
Bent  —  J.  C.  Jones 

Boulder        —  L.  H.  Dickson 
— D.  H.  Pike 
— H.  Prince 

Chaff ee        -J.  G.  Kelly 
Clear  Creek— G.  A.  Patton 

— R.  F.  Shaw 

Conejos        — J.  W.  Hughes 
Costilla        —Louis  Cohn 
Custer          — Oney  Carstarphen 

—Frank  Hunter 
Delta,  Gunnison,  Mesa, 
Montrose  and  Pitkin 

-J.  W.  Bucklin 
Dolores,  Our2y  and  San  Miguel 

— Lafe  Pence 
Douglas       — G.  C.  Pratt 
Eagle,  Garfield  and  Summit 
— J.  Ben  Lewis 


Clerk— R.  M.  Stevenson 
Elbert       — M.  R.  Chapman 
El  Paso     — C.  W.  Barker 

—John  Campbell 
Fremont  — C.  D.  Bradley 
Gilpin  — John  Clark 

-S.  V,  Newell 
Grand  & 

Routt  —P.  T.  Hinman 
Hinsdale  — E.  I.  Stirman 
Huerfano— R.  A.  Quillian 
Jefferson  — J.  C.  Davidson 

— C.  P,  Evans 
Lake         — Fraak  Bulkley 

-H.  H.  DeMary 

— W.  E.  Hugo 

—Nat  Rollins 
La  Plata— John  A.  Porter 
Larimer  — W.  H.  McCormiok 
Las  Animas— Pedro  Chacon 

— E.  B.  Sopris 
Park          —A.  Bergh 
Pueblo      — L.  T.  Taylor 

— K.  Wildeboor 
Rio  Grande— J.  J.  Ewing,  Jr. 
Saguache— S.  F.  Rathvon 
San  Juan— Barney  O'Driscoll 
Weld         — Wm.  McFie 


THK  preliminary  canvass  of  the  cain- 
lOOO  Pa^n  °^  1*^  was  characterized  by  an 
unwonted  harmon}-,  presenting-,  in  this 
respect,  so  marked  a  contrast  to  the  two  cam- 
paigns preceding  that  many  of  the  workers  and 
heelers  who  had  thrived  upon  the  turmoil  and 
the  dissensions  in  the  party  were  at  somewhat 
of  a  loss  to  know  where  to  place  themselves. 
The  factional  lines  of  the  past,  if  they  had  not 
entirely  disappeared,  were  so  illy  defined  that 
some  of  these  gentlemen  were  surprised  to  find 
that  they  were  working  elbow  to  elbow  with  men 
whom  only  two  years  previously  the}'  had  been 
engaged  in  most  industriously  abusing. 

As  a  result,  the  Arapahoe  county  primaries 
and  convention  presented  such  a  dead  level  of 
harmony  as  to  be  almost  uninteresting.  In 
man}-  of  the  wards  but  one  delegate  ticket  was 
in  the  field,  while  where  there  were  two  or  more 
the  voters  very  generally  elected  one  by  an  over- 
whelming majority,  showing  that  this  year  there 
was  very  little  S}'mpathy  with  "kickers/' 

It  was  not  denied,  however,  that  the  main 
question  turned  upon  the  nomination  for  govern- 
or. Wm.  H.  Meyer,  of  Costilla,  F.  D.  Wight,  of 
Las  Animas,  James  Mo3Tnahan,  of  Park,  B.  H. 
Eaton,  of  Weld,  and  Hosea  Townsend,  of  Custer, 
were  in  the  field.  Mr.  Meyer  was  backed  by  Kd. 
Wolcott,  Senator  Hill,  and  their  friends,  m  ostly 


HARMONY  PREVAILS  105 

from  what  was  formerly  known  as  the  Hill  fac- 
tion. Mr.  Teller  was  strongly  opposed  to  Meyer, 
and  was  supposed  to  favor  Moynahan,  though  a 
number  of  Tellers  friends  supported  Wight. 
Eaton,  came  into  the  convention  backed  by  the 
power  of  the  state  administration. 

The  Arapahoe  primaries  were  held  on  August 
26,  and  the  convention  two  days  later.  The  ut- 
most harmony  prevailed,  and  when  the  72  dele- 
gates to  the  state  convention  were  selected  it  was 
difficult  to  determine  which  of  the  gubernatorial 
candidates  were  in  the  lead.  The  Me}-er  men 
claimed  a  majority  of  the  county  delegates — a 
claim  which  seemed  to  be  justified  by  the  final 
event. 

When  the  state  convention  assembled  in  Den- 
ver, on  September  28,  a  ripple  of  interest  was  cre- 
ated by  the  promise  of  a  contest  for  the  chair- 
manship of  the  convention  between  Senator  Tel- 
ler and  ex-Senator  Tabor.  A  delegation  of  prom- 
inent members  of  the  party  waited  upon  Mr.  Ta- 
bor and  requested  him  to  accept  the  chairman- 
ship, while  another  delegation,  equally  promi- 
nent had  preferred  a  like  request  to  Senator  Tel- 
ler. Neither  side  would  yield,  but  what  at  first 
promised  to  be  a  serious  contest  was  finally 
averted  b}^  an  agreement  that  Mr.  Teller  should 
be  the  temporary  and  Mr.  Tabor  the  permanent 
chairman. 

Two  contests,  in  Gunnison  and  Pitkin  counties 
were  decided  only  after  the  credentials  committee 
had  been  in  session  during  the  entire  day,  and 
therefore  nothing  was  done  in  convention  until 


106  THE  STATE  CONVENTION 

the  29th.  The  time  was  not  lost,  however,  being 
fully  occupied  in  canvassing-  for  the  several  can- 
didates. It  soon  became  evident  that  while  Mr. 
Me}Ter  had  ver}-  nearly  a  majoritj',  he  could  not 
possibly  be  nominated  without  assistance  from 
some  of  the  other  candidates.  His  nomination 
was  peculiarly  the  fig-lit  of  Kd.  Wolcott.  That 
gentleman  had  then  begun  to  indulge  the  dream 
of  a  seat  in  the  United  States  senate  which  has 
since  become  a  reality.  It  was  imperatively  nec- 
essar}r,  as  he  thought,  to  his  aspirations,  that  tin- 
con  vention  should  stand  by  him,  and  he  was 
therefore  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  toward  the 
nomination  of  his  candidate.  His  success  was 
extremely  doubtful,  however,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  antagonism  to  Governor  Eaton  that  had  been 
aroused  in  different  directions.  Eaton  had  suc- 
ceeded in  souring-  very  many  of  his  former  sup- 
porters, and  besides,  there  were  several  of  the 
leaders  who  had  knives  ready  for  him  which 
the}'  were  at  no  pains  to  conceal.  As  Meyer  crept 
slowly  up  to  his  limit  the  excitement  grew  in- 
tense, and  the  most  extravagant  propositions 
we're  made  to  the  leaders  who  controlled  the  sit- 
uation. 

On  the  informal  ballot  Me}rer  received  137, 
\V  ight  81,  Moynahan  97,  Eaton  90,  and  Townsend  5. 

With  the  first  formal  ballot  was  seen  the  effect 
of  Mr.  Wolcott's  strong  card  of  playing-  for  his 
man  as  second  choice.  Meyer  ran  up  to  170,  while 
Wight  fell  to  78,  Moynahan  to  86,  Eaton  to  71,  and 
Townsend  received  6. 

Me3'er-still  lacked  37  votes  of    a  nomination, 


A    DEAL  FOR    MEYER  107 

and  Wolcott  could  only  see  his  way  clear  to  per- 
haps a  dozen  more  votes.  It  seemed  at  this  time 
that  Meyer's  nomination  was  impossible,  but  on 
the  other  hand  much  of  the  opposition  to  Meyer 
was  still  more  strongly  opposed  to  Katon,  and 
about  this  time  a  rumor  was  circulated  that  a 
deal  had  been  made  by  which  the  Me}^er  forces 
were  to  be  turned  over  to  Eaton  as  soon  as  it 
should  be  demonstrated  that  Meyer  could  not  be 
nominated.  Under  the  stimulus  of  this  report 
on  the  next  ballot  Meyer  ran  up  to  196  votes — lack- 
ing- 11  of  a  nomination,  Wight  receiving  66,  M.oy- 
nahan  83,  Katon  62,  and  Tovvnsend  5. 

At  this  juncture,  B.  Clark  Wheeler,  of  Aspen, 
attempted  to  put  in  play  one  of  his  peculiar  po- 
litical tricks.  Rising  in  his  place  he  announced 
that  Pitkin  desired  to  change  her  vote.  This  an- 
nouncement created  great  excitement,  as  Pitkin 
county  had  just  the  number  of  votes  necessar3r 
for  Me3^er's  nomination.  But  while  Wheeler  was 
ambitious  to  be  regarded  as  the  custodian  of  the 
Pitkin  county  vote,  his  associates  declined  to 
concede  the  claim.  The}7  walked  all  over  him, 
and  without  making  his  announcement  Wheeler 
sat  down. 

An  adjournment  was  had  till  afternoon,  and 
during  the  recess  a  last  effort  was  made  for  Mey- 
er. There  was  just  one  source  from  which  assist- 
ance might  be  obtained.  The  Larimer  county 
delegation  was  opposed  to  Me}rer,  but  it  preferred 
him  to  Katon.  N.  H.  Mel  drum  was  chairman  of 
the  delegation,  and  to  him  Wolcott  made  an  ear- 
nest appeal.  He  stated  frankly  that  the  nomitia- 


108  MEYER   NOMINATED 

tion  of  >ieyer  was  necessary  for  the  success  of 
his  political  plans,  and  offered  to  send  for  Me3Ter 
and  secure  from  him  any  pledge  that  might  be 
necessar}7  to  secure  the  support  of  the  Larimer 
delegation,  at  the  same  time  stating-  that  the 
Me3~er  men  would  nominate  Eaton  if  they  should 
be  compelled  to  leave  their  own  man.  Meldrum 
was  equally  frank,  and  stated  that  as  between 
Katon  and  Meyer,  inasmuch  as  it  was  evident 
that  his  own  man — Moynahan  -could  not  be  nom- 
inated, he  would  go  to  Meyer.  It  was  finally  ar- 
ranged that  certain  Arapahoe  county  votes, 
which  could  be  reached,  should  go  to  Meyer,  and 
then,  if  the  vote  of  Larimer  county  should  be 
sufficient  to  nominate  it  should  be  changed  to 
Meyer.  This  programme  was  carried  out.  At 
the  close  of  the  next  ballot  the  vote  stood:  Meyer 
204,  Wight  65,  Moynahan  73,  Eaton  48  and  Maxwell 
15.  Meldrum  immediately  announced  a  change 
of  9  votes  from  Moynahan  to  Meyer,  and  the  lat- 
ter was  nominated.  Taking  the  estimate  of  Mr. 
Wolcott  himself,  it  was  the  result  of  this  conven- 
tion that  made  it  possible  for  him  to  occup}^  a 
seat  in  the  United  States  senate. 

Meldrum,  though  not  a  candidate  for  the  posi- 
tion, was  nominated  for  lieutenant-governor,  by 
acclamation,  and  Judge  Symes  was  re-nominated 
for  congress  without  opposition. 

The  Democratic  convention  met  on  October  0, 
and  closed  up  its  business  in  a  single  day,  Alva 
Adams  being  nominated  for  governor,  and  My- 
ron W.  Reed,  then  at  the  heighth  of  his  popular- 
ity, for  Congress. 


OPPOSITION   TO    MEYER  109 

The  campaign  was  not  ten  days  old  before  it 
became  apparent  that  Me}7er  could  be  elected 
only  by  the  most  strenuous  efforts,  and  that  the 
personal  popularity  of  Reed,  a  popularity  that 
was  accentuated  by  every  device  that  suggested 
itself  to  the  Democratic  leaders,  bade  fair  to  wipe 
out  the  handsome  majority  of  Judge  Symes  in 
1884.  The  party  seemed  to  be  apathetic  beyond 
all  reason.  Kx-Senator  Tabor  was  chairman  of 
the  state  committee,  and  never  was  there  more 
earnest  or  thorough  work  put  into  a  campaign 
under  more  discouraging  circumstances.  It 
seemed  impossible  to  create  any  enthusiasm  for 
Meyer,  \vhile  Adams,  personally  popular,  young, 
magnetic,  eloquent,  and  having  an  extensive 
business  connection  all  over  the  southern  part  of 
the  state,  was  breaking  down  the  Republican 
fences  in  every  direction.  It  was  alleged  on  the 
part  of  the  old-time  Republicans  that  in  the  ter- 
ritorial clays  Mr.  Mej^er,  when  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  had  aided  in  the  election  of  Judge 
Miller,  a  Democrat,  for  speaker  of  the  house. 
This  bit  of  old-time  history  is  interesting  as  il- 
lustrating some  of  the  political  methods  of  those 
ancient  days.  Mr.  Meyer  did  vote  for  Judge  Mil- 
ler against  Judge  Elbert,  who  was  the  Republi- 
can candidate,  as  did  other  Republican  members 
from  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  whom  it  was 
supposed  Meyer  controlled,  and  it  was  charged 
at  the  time  and  subsequently  that  the  considera- 
tion was  of  a  financial  character.  The  true  story, 
which  is  now  published  for  the  first  time,  is  as 
follows: 


110  A  POLITICAL    REMINISCENCE 

Judge  Miller  was  a  candidate  for  the  Demo- 
cratic nomination  for  congress,  and  desired  the 
speakership  as  a  stepping-stone  to  his  ambition. 
The  deal  was  made  with  the  Republican  mem- 
bers who  voted  for  him  for  the  speakership,  and 
with  another  party,  still  living  in  Denver,  that  in 
the  event  of  his  receiving  the  Democratic  nomi- 
nation for  congress  they  should  give  him  their 
support,  which  was  expected  to  result  in  their 
carrying  the  San  Luis  park  and  Arapahoe  count\T, 
in  consideration  of  which  support  the  Republi- 
cans involved  in  the  scheme  should  have,  the 
naming  of  all  the  federal  appointees  in  the  terri- 
tory. It  is  possible  that  Judge  Miller  deluded 
himself  with  the  idea  that  a  Republican  adminis- 
tration, with  Mr.  Chaffee  very  much  in  evidence, 
and  possessing  the  complete  confidence  of  the 
heads  of  departments,  would  permit  the  selec- 
tion of  the  federal  appointees  from  a  list  of  Re- 
publican applicants,  by  a  Democratic  delegate, 
who  could  not  offer  the  poor  return  of  a  vote  in 
congress,  but  whether  he  did  or  not  he  seemed  to 
have  the  faculty  of  making  his  Republican  allies 
believe  it  so  thoroughly  that  they  entered  into  an 
arrangement  which,  years  afterward,  was  to  rise 
up  to  plague  one  of  the  parties.  But  candidates 
propose  and  conventions  dispose.  The  judge 
was  shrewd  enough  to  help  in  securing  the  nom- 
ination of  Judge  Bradford,  whom  he  regarded  as 
the  easiest  man  to  beat,  but  when  his  own  con- 
vention met,  he  lacked  three  votes  of  a  nomina- 
tion, the  other  candidates  combined  against  him, 
and  the  result  was  the  nomination  of  Judge  Bel- 


MEYER   DEFEATED  111 

den,  who  was  easily  beaten  by  Bradford.  So  that 
all  that  came  out  of  this  scheme,  so  impossible 
of  complete  fulfillment,  was  the  development  of 
one  element  of  opposition  to  Meyer  for  his  share 
in  the  transaction. 

Another  complaint  against  Me}rer  was  that  he 
had  been  lukewarm  in  his  support  of  Campbell 
in  1882,  and,  if  he  did  not  actually  consent  to  the 
bolt,  did  not  object  to  it  very  strongly.  And  then 
he  lost  votes  from  the  fact  that  in  the  convention 
his  support  came  ver}^  generally  from  the  old 
Hill  faction,  \vhile  those  who  opposed  him  were 
mostl}r  friends  of  Mr.  Teller,  and  there  was  a 
deep-seated  desire  for  revenge  for  the  bolt  of  1882. 
It  must  be  acknowledged  that  none  of  these  were 
good  reasons  for  the  defeat  of  a  candidate  as 
fairly  nominated  as  Meyer,  but  when  it  is  desired 
to  accomplish  any  political  purpose,  no  matter 
how  disreputable,  reasons  can  always  be  found, 
and  the  fact  was  that  whether  for  a  good  or  bad 
reason,  the  Republicans  of  Colorado  did  not  want 
Meyer  for  governor. 

When  the  returns  came  in  it  was  found  that 
Arapahoe  gave  Meyer  but  200  plurality,  while 
Reed  carried  the  county  by  500,  and  Meldrum, 
who  led  the  Republican  ticket,  received  a  plural- 
ity of  1160,  the  Democrats  electing  three  repre- 
sentatives and  one  senator  on  the  county  legisla- 
tive ticket. 

Adams  was  elected  by  2418  pluralit}^  while 
Symes's  plurality  of  more  than  6000  in  1884  was 
reduced  to  803.  Meldrum,  for  lieutenant-govern- 
or, received  a  plurality  of  2980.  An  analysis  of 


112  A  CLOSE  LEGISLATURE 

the  vote  shows  that  about  4000  Republicans  voted 
for  Adams,  that  nearl}-  3000  voted  for  Reed,  and 
that  a  large  number  did  not  vote  at  all. 

The  Sixth  General  Assembl3r  ver}-  nearU-  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Democrats,  the  senate 
standing-  18  Republicans  and  8  Democrats  and 
the  house  25  Republicans  and  24  Democrats,  a 
loss  of  20  majorit3r  on  joint  ballot  since  the 
election  of  1884. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE, 
CONGRESS. 

oOth  Congress—  G.  G.  Symes  .......  27,732    M  yron  W.  Rood 

STATE  OFFICERS. 


26,929 


Governor  —  Win.  H,  Meyer  

.26,816 

Alva  Adams*  

.29,234 

Lt-Gov.    —  N.  H.  Meldrum  

.29,103 

H.  B.  Gillespie  

.26,123 

Secy  St'e  —  James  Rice 

.  29,997 

Jere   Mahonoy  

.25,246 

Treas.       —  P.  W.  Breene  

.28,311 

Jas.  F.  Benedict...  . 

.  26.618 

Auditor  —  D.  P.  Kingsloy  

.29,491 

(  'asimero  Barela  .  .  . 

.  25,700 

Atty  Gen—  Alvin  Marsh  

.  30,160 

E.  I.  Stirman..   

.25,190 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

—  L.  S.  Cornell  

,30,813 

A.  B.  Copeland  

.   3,455 

Regents  of  the  University 

—  Wolfe  Londoner  

.2«,14& 

Fred  Lockwood 

.26,600 

—  E.  J.  Temple  

.29,882 

Erank  P.  Bertschy. 

.22,547 

—  Daniel  E.  Newcomb*. 

.  29,459 

O.  A.  McFarland*.. 

..23,014 

JUDICIARY. 

Judge  of  the  Supreme  Courtf 

—  Samuel  H  Elbert  

.  31,703 

Wilbur  F.  Stone.  .  .  . 

.26,1587 

District  Attorneys! 

1st  Dist.  —  S.  S.  Downer  

...4588 

Isaac  N.  Smith  

...3361 

2d     .'•      —Isaac  N.  Stevens  

...6728 

L.  R.  Rhodes  

...7174 

3d      "      —  J.  C.  Elwell 

6022 

Geo.  Q.  Richmond. 

4339 

4th    "      —  Chas.  S.  Libby  

.  .  .  3214 

Wm.  O'Brien  

...2523 

5th    k4     —  Wm   Kellogg 

4751 

Geo  R    Elder 

3986 

6th    "     --Geo.  T.  Sumner  

.   .3271 

O.  P.  Arthur  

.  .  .  2614 

7th    "     —  Ilerschell  M.  Hogg... 

.  ..2607 

Scattering  

.  ..  404 

S  IXTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 

President  pro  tern.  Geo.  M.  Chilcott.    Secretary— Sylvester  Nichols. 


1st  Dist.—  James  M.  Freeman 
2d     "     —  E.  A.  Ballard 
3d      "     —  O.  F.  A.  Green 
4th    "     —  S.  V.  C.  Newell 
5th    "     —  Thomas  Cornish 

6th    " 

7th    " 

—A.  W.  Waters 
—  M.  B.  Carpenter 
—  John  H.  Poole 
—  C.  T.  Harkison 
—Henry  Lee 

*To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Clinton  M.  Tyler, 
t  Election  held  in  1885  for  regular  term. 


114 


SIXTH    GKXKRAL   ASSEMBLY 


8th  Diet.— John  Campbell  14th  " 

ytli    "       -L.  W.  Wells  15th  " 

10th"      —  G.  M.Woodworth  16th" 

11th  "      — C.  J.  Christian  17th  " 

—Samuel  Adams  18th  •• 

— T.  B.  Ryan*  19th  " 

12th  "     — H.  H.  Eddy  20th  " 

13th  "      —John  Kinkaid  21st  " 


—James  A.  McCandless 
-Chas.  H.  Abbott 
— Geo.  M    Chilcott 
— E.  T.  Beckwith 
— Casimero  Barela 
— Juan  De  Montez 
— A.  D.  Archuleta 
— Adair  Wilson 


HOUSE  OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 


Speaker— T.  B.  Stuart 
Arapahoo     — T.  H.  Stuart 

—John  G.  HotTor 
-J.  L.  Russell 

—  F.  J.  V.  Skiff 
—Geo.  Davis 

— Wm  (T.  WluM-l.-r 
— (\  A.  Eppich 

—  F.  Q.  Stuart 
Archuleta  and  Conejos 

— Wm.  Adams 
Bent  —  J.  N.  Beatty 

Boulder        —  J.  N.  Turrell 

— T.  R.  Owen 

-John  H.  Wolls 
Chaffee  —Geo.  M.  Bowcn 
Clear  ("reek— Robt.  B.  Griswold 

— R.  S.  Morrison 
Costilla  — N.  W.  Durkor 
Custer  —Jesse  White 

—Thomas  Edwards 
Delta,  Gunnison,  Mesa, 
Montrose  and  Pitkin 

—Samuel  Wade 
Dolopes,  Ouray  and  San  Miguel 

— J.  T.  Donnellan 
Douglas       — F.  H.  Allison 
Saguache    — Leopold  Mayer 


Clerk— M.  R.  Moore 
Eagle,  Garfield  and  Summit 

— Melvin  Edwards 
Elbert  —  Dewey  C.  Bailey 
El  Paso  — Wm.  E.  Meek 

—Chas.  E.  Noble 
Fremont   —Hop  Newkirk 
Gilpin        —James  R.  Hicks 

— H.  C\  Balsinger 
Grand  <fe 

Routt        —James  H.  (-rawford 
Hinsdale  — Wm.  Rowan 
Huerfano— P.  W.  Sweeney 
Jefferson  —  C.  P.  Evans 

— J.  A.  Van  Gorden 
Lake         — J.  A.  Dean 

— J.  H.  Stotesbury 

— J.  F.  Hoover 

— Owen  Prentiss 
La  Plata— WTm.  G.  Winters 
Larimer  — R.  W.  Orvis 
Las  Animas — Jose  B.  Cordova 

— Ramon  Aguilar 
Park          —Geo.  E.  Pease 
Pueblo      — F.  H.  Sutherland 

-J.  R.  Garber 
Rio  Grande— J.  H.  Shaw 
San  Juan— John  R.  Curry 
Weld         -F.  W.  Hammitt 


*To  till  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  John  T.  Elkins. 


LIKE  the  campaign  of  1884,  that  of  1888 
depended  somewhat  upon  the  contest 
for  the  United  States  senatorship.  Mr 
\Volcott  was  openly  in  the  field  for  senatorial 
honors.  In  1887  the  campaign  for  county  offices 
in  Arapahoe  hinged  to  some  extent  upon  this  is- 
sue, and  it  was  understood  that  Mr.  Weber,  can- 
didate for  sheriffjwas,  if  not  runningHn  the  inter- 
est of  Mr.  Wolcott,  at  least  very  strongty  dis- 
posed to  favor  the  pretensions  of  that  gentleman 
to  the  succession  to  Senator  Bo  wen.  Mr.  Wol- 
cott conducted  his  campaign  in  the  most  skilful 
manner  possible.  His  aim  was  to  control  the 
party  machine^,  and  in  this  he  was  entirety  suc- 
cessful, cutting  loose  from  his  old  associations 
with  Senator  Hill,  and  forming  new  alliances 
with  the  leaders  of  the  Teller  faction.  This  was 
riot  easy  of  accomplishment,  however.  Though 
Mr.  Teller  had  been  successful  four  3^ears  before, 
the  feeling  against  the  old  Hill  faction  among 
his  friends  was  still  intense,  and  there  were  many 
who  ver}^  unwillingly  consented  to  support  Mr. 
Wolcott  for  the  senate,  and  others  who  positively 
refused  to  further  the  aspirations  of  a  man  who 
had  so  recentty  been  one  of  the  most  vigorous 
opponents  of  Senator  Teller. 

Naturally,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Hill,  who  were 
still  strong  and  active,  notwithstanding  their  de- 
feat, could  not  regard  with  equanimity  what 


HO         UOLCOTT'S  SENATORIAL  CAMPAIGN 

the>r  regarded  as  the  desertion  of  a  former  all}', 
though  why  they  should  oppose  Wolcott  when 
Hill  was  not  a  candidate  is  difficult  of  explana- 
tion except  upon  the  presumptions  that  it  was 
because  he  did  not  directly  represent  Hill,  and 
that  they  resented  the  independence  of  the  tal- 
ented Wolcott  in  presuming-  to  aspire  to  the  toga. 
But  Wolcott  had  builded  wisely.  The  attachment 
of  the  young  men  who  had  supplied  the  enthusi- 
asm of  the  campaigns  of  1882  and  1884  was  more 
for  Wolcott  than  for  Hill,  and  when  the  break 
came  it  was  found  that  the  large  majority  of  the 
Hill  faction  was  earnest  in  the  support  of  Wol- 
cott, regardless  of  the  attitude  of  Mr.  Hill,  which 
they  freely  denounced  as  entirely  and  selfishly 
unreasonable. 

But  the  Hill  party  did  not  concede  Wolcott's 
right  to  the  place  till  he  had  won  it.  He  was  op- 
posed by  the  Republican  from  the  beginning,  and 
as  the  time  approached  for  the  meeting  of  the 
state  convention  the  antagonism  of  that  paper 
became  exceedingly  bitter.  The  elements  of  the 
opposition  however,  were  neither  strong  nor  unit- 
ed. The  few  disgruntled  Teller  men  and  the  per- 
sonal friends  of  Hill  neither  could  nor  would  co- 
alesce, and  Wolcott  carried  the  day. 

The  Arapahoe  county  primaries  were  held  on 
August  30,  and  the  convention  two  days  later. 
Notwithstanding  the  earnest  efforts  made  to  de- 
feat the  Wolcott  delegates  upon  the  plea  of 
"gang"  and  "  ring"  rule,  it  was  plain  that  it  was 
a  Wolcott  convention.  Wolcott  had  made  the 
fight  openly.  It  was  perfectly  understood  that 


WOLCOTT    WINS   IN   ARAPAHOE  117 

he  was  endeavoring-  to  secure  control  of  the  con- 
vention; his  opponents  had  been  outspoken  in 
their  denunciation  of  his  objects;n  one  of  his 
friends  denied  that  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
senate  was  the  object  of  his  ambition;  none  of 
his  enemies  failed  to  do  everything1  in  their  pow- 
er to  compass  his  defeat,  and  yet  he  was  success- 
ful. The  inference  cannot  be  avoided  that  he  was 
the  choice  of  the  Republican  party,  and  whatever 
may  have  been  the  opinions  of  his  opponents  as 
to  his  personality,  his  ability  or  his  fitness  for 
the  position,  the  fact  cannot  be  disputed  that  he 
challenged  the  worst  efforts  of  his  political  ene- 
mies, and  defeated  them  in  a  contest  that  was 
conducted  in  the  most  open  manner,  and  man- 
aged with  an  aggressiveness  that  called  forth 
the  admiration  of  his  most  inveterate  foes.  If 
political  results  are  to  be  taken  as  an  expression 
of  the  popular  will,  no  candidate  for  public  posi- 
tion in  this  state  was  ever  more  heartily  endorsed 
than  was  Senator  Wolcottin  the  preliminary  can- 
vass of  1888. 

It  was  the  tacit  understanding  that  in  his  ef- 
forts to  secure  legislative  candidates  favorable 
to  his  aspirations,  Wolcott  should  take  no  part 
whatever  in  the  several  contests  for  state  officers. 
Indeed  he  could  hardly  afford  to  enter  into  entan- 
glements that  might  affect  his  own  campaig-n, 
and  therefore,  on  the  part  of  the  aspirants  for 
places  on  the  state  ticket  it  was  conceded  that 
he  should  be  permitted  without  molestation  to 
secure  the  legislative  nominees  if  he  could.  This 
understanding  was,  as  a  rule,  faithfully  carried 


118  STATE  CONVENTION   FOR    \VOLCOTT 

out,  but,  as  a  natural  result,  the  selection  of  dele- 
gates to  count}'  conventions  who  would  nomin- 
ate Wolcott  candidates  for  the  legislature  carried 
with  it  the  selection  of  Wolcott  delegates  to  the 
state  convention.  As  a  consequence,  when  the 
State  convention  met  on  September  4,  it  was  dis- 
covered that  full}*  three-fout  ths  of  the  550  dele- 
gates regarded  Wolcott  as  the  leader  of  the  party 
and  looked  to  him  for  inspiration  in  choosing 
candidates  for  state  offices.  In  fact  his  success- 
ful campaign  for  the  senate  had  so  overshadowed 
all  other  interests  that  the  delegates  were  indis- 
posed to  take  any  steps  that  might  possibly  affect 
the  action  of  the  legislature. 

The  canvass  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination 
had  been  exceptional!}'  warm,  and  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Cooper,  at  least,  had  been  conducted  with  a 
system  scarcely  second  to  that  of  Wolcott  for  the 
senatorship.  Wilbur  C.  .Lothrop  was  the  man- 
ager for  Cooper,  and  brought  to  the  work  an  ex- 
perience and  energy  that  very  largely  contributed 
to  the  success  of  his  man. 

Four  others  contested  the  nomination  with 
Cooper— Rev.  D.  A.  Moore,  pastor  of  Trinity  M.  K. 
church,  of  Denver,  an  earnest  Republican,  and  a 
candidate  whose  motives  were  far  above  the  mere 
gratification  of  a  selfish  ambition;  Norman  H. 
Meldrum,  whose  services  to  the  party  had  been 
always  cheerfully  rendered,  even  when  involving- 
personal  sacrifice,  and  always  valuable;  Wolfe 
Londoner,  who  had  been  active  in  the  councils 
of  the  party  from  the  foundation  of  Colorado  as 
a  territory,  and  H.  A.  W.  Tabor,  whose  contribir 


THE  vSTATE  CONVENTION  119 

tions  of  time  and  money  had  only  been  measured 
by  the  necessities  of  the  occasion.  Never  were 
candidates  for  this  high  honor  more  deserving 
of  recognition.  In  intellectual  ability  Dr.  Moore 
easily  stood  at  the  head,  but  in  earnest  devotion 
to  the  interests  of  the  party  they  were  on  a  par. 

When  the  convention  met  it  was  evident  that 
a  choice  would  be  difficult  to  make.  Cooper's 
friends  were  active  and  omnipresent,  but  at  first 
the  delegates  did  not  take  kindly  to  his  candida- 
cy. While  always  an  earnest  Republican,  he  had 
not  been  particularly  active  in  politics,  and  had 
never  attained  any  degree  of  prominence  as  a 
leader  in  his  count}-,  while  to  a  large  number  of 
delegates  he  was  absolutely  unknown.  It  was 
industriously  circulated,  however,  that  Mr.  Teller 
favored  his  nomination,  while,  \vith  equal  energy 
it  was  alleged  that  he  had  secured  a  number  of 
outside  counties,  the  representatives  from  which 
would  take  pleasure  in  "knifing"  Wolcott  in  the 
event  of  the  defeat  of  their  candidate.  The  truth 
of  this  latter  statement  is  problematical;  at  all 
events  it  had  no  effect  upon  the  delegates.  It 
was  apparent  that  in  an  open  fight  the  result 
would  be  difficult  of  determination,  and  it  was 
therefore  decided  to  adjourn  for  consultation  af- 
ter an  informal  ballot  for  governor.  For  con- 
gress Hosea  Townsend  was  the  only  candidate 
in  the  field,  and  his  nomination  was  made  by  ac- 
clamation. 

The  informal  ballot  for  governor  resulted:  Ta- 
bor, 169,  Moore,  119,  Cooper,  114,  Meldrum,  82,  and 
Londoner,  68.  The  convention  then  adjourned  to 


120  AN  APPEAL  TO   WOLCOTT 

the  following-  day,  and  the  delegates  put  in  their 
time  in  figuring  out  the  possibilities.  From  the 
best  information  attainable  toward  evening-,  it 
seemed  that  Mel  drum  and  Londoner  were  the  only 
candidates  that  stood  a  chance  of  gaining,  while 
none  who  had  been  so  far  named  stood  within 
reach  of  the  goal.  The  fear  that  the  senatorial 
situation  might  be  compromised  should  a  bitter 
contest  develop,  influenced  many  of  the  delegates 
to  appeal  to  Wolcott  to  use  his  undoubted  influ- 
ence in  the  convention  to  solve  the  problem. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  was  a  strong  and  vigor- 
ous protest  on  the  part  of  a  very  large  following, 
'to  whom  Wolcott  would  be  compelled  to  look  for 
support  in  the  legislature,  against  his  interfering 
in  any  manner  with  the  work  of  the  state  conven- 
tion. These  protests  came  as  a  rule  from  the 
personal  friends  of  Mr.  Teller,  and  they  claimed 
consideration  from  Wolcott  upon  the  well-known 
fact  that  any  objections  on  the  part  of  Senator 
Teller  would  be  fatal  to  Wolcott's  aspirations  to- 
ward the  United  States  senate.  But  Wolcott  was 
inclined  to  interfere  in  behalf  of  Cooper,  and 
urged  that  he  had  a  right  to  a  gubernatorial  can- 
didate friendly  to  him,  and  that  he  could  make 
Cooper  his  friend.  It  was  urged  upon  him  that 
none  of  the  gubernatorial  candidates  were  par- 
ticularly friendly  to  him,  and  that  it  would  be  to 
his  interest  to  keep  his  hands  out  of  the  conven- 
tion. This  was  strictly  true.  All  of  the  candi- 
dates, during  the  factional  stuggles  of  a  few 
years  before,  had  been  identified  with  the  Teller 
faction,  and  had  little  cause  to  regard  Wolcott 


WOLCOTT  FAVORS  COOPER  121 

with  favor.  Meldrum  in  particular  had  been  one 
of  Wolcott's  most  vigorous  opponents,  and  was 
one  of  the  principal  factors  in  the  defeat  of  Hen- 
ry  Wolcott  in  the  convention  of  1882.  It  is  possi- 
ble that  this  fact  had  some  influence  upon  Wol- 
cott, for,  had  not  Cooper  been  nominated  Mel- 
drum  stood  the  best  chance  of  becoming-  the 
nominee,  and  when  it  was  proposed  to  Wolcott 
that  if  he  interfered  at  all  he  should  do  so  in  the 
interest  of  Meldrum,  who  could  be  relied  upon  to 
carry  out  an}^  agreement  entered  into,  the  sug- 
gestion was  declined  with  considerable  warmth. 
The  true  story  of  this  transaction,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  nomination  of  Cooper,  and  includes 
one  of  the  most  extraordinar}^  political  bargains 
ever  made  in  Colorado,  is  as  follows:  A  short 
time  before  the  convention  it  came  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  Mr.  Wolcott  that  some  of  Cooper's  friends 
had  made  the  assertion  that  in  the  event  of  Coop- 
er's  nomination  he  would  contribute  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  to  the  campaign  fund.  Wolcott  ap- 
peared to  take  the  assertion  seriousl}%  and  as  he 
had  a  vital  interest  in  the  result  of  the  campaign, 
considered  the  great  help  that  so  handsome  a 
contribution  to  the  campaign  fund  would  be  to 
his  aspirations,  and  therefore  when  his  friend 
General  Dodge  came  to  him  on  the  part  of  Coop- 
er, he  was  more  than  read3T  to  listen  with  favor. 
The  entire  deal  was  made  during  the  day  and 
evening  following  the  adjournment  after  the  in- 
formal ballot.  A  committee  was  appointed  upon 
the  part  of  Wolcott  to  wait  upon  the  representa- 
tives of  Cooper  to  make  terms,  and  concluded 


12'J  A    REMARKABLE   COMPACT 

the  following-  remarkable  compact:  It  was  agreed 
on  the  part  of  Cooper  that  he  would  contribute 
liberally  to  the  campaign  fund;  that,  if  elected, 
he  would  make  all  of  his  state  appointments  be- 
fore the  election  of  United  States  senator;  that 
all  state  appointees  should  be  named  by  Wolcott; 
and  that,  in  the  event  of  a  difference  between 
Cooper  and  Wolcott  regarding-  the  matter  of  ap- 
pointments, General  Dodge  was  to  act  as  umpire 
with  absolute  power  of  settlement.  In  other 
words,  Cooper  was  graciously  permitted  to  fur- 
nish a  large  share  of  the  sinews  of  war,  to  ap- 
point state  officers,  provided  they  were  named  by 
Wolcott,  and  to  assist  Wolcott  to  an  election  as 
United  States  senator,  made  possible  by  Cooper's 
financial  aid,  while  Wolcott  should  enjoy  all  the 
fruits  of  victor}r  save  only  the  acting  governor- 
ship of  the  state.  The  proposition  implied  so 
much  distrust  of  Cooper  that  is  wonderful  that 
it  was  made;  having  been  made  it  is  more  won- 
derful that  it  was  accepted;  having  been  accepted 
it  would  have  been  most  wonderful  had  it  been 
faithfully  carried  out.  But  it  was  not  carried  out. 
There  is  little  doubt  now  that  had  it  not  been 
for  this  agreement  and  the  active  participation  of 
Wolcott,  Meldrum  would  have  been  nominated, 
for  he  had  strong  support  in  all  the  different  ele- 
ments of  the  convention,  and  when  it  became 
known  that  Wolcott  had  fully  determined  to 
throw  his  influence  for  Cooper,  the  protests 
ag-ainst  such  action  were  more  vigorous  than  ev- 
er, as  it  was  felt  b}7  Meldrum's  friends  that  it  was 
destruction  to  the  hopes  of  their  man.  But  pro- 


THE  DEAL  CARRIED  OUT  123 

tests  availed  nothing*.  The  compact  was  made 
and  carried  out  so  far  as  it  could  be  in  the  state 
convention.  After  the  adjournment  of  the  con- 
vention there  was  scarcel3r  an  item  of  the  agree- 
ment that  was  observed. 

Wolcott  could  have  nominated  Cooper  on  the 
first  formal  ballot  had  he  been  so  disposed,  but  it 
was  thought  best  to  let  him  grow  gradually,  so 
long  as  there  was  no  danger  of  a  boom  for  Tabor. 
According!}^  there  were  five  ballots  before  the 
nomination  was  made.  On  the  last  ballot  there 
was  no  effort  made  to  conceal  the  fact  that  it  was 
Wolcott's  wish,  and  that  alone,  that  influenced 
most  of  the  delegates.  It  had  been  tacitl3r  agreed 
that  Wolcott  should  go  to  the  senate,  and  as  a 
natural  consequence  it  was  a  Wolcott  convention, 
but  there  was  no  enthusiasm  about  Cooper.  The 
convention  simply  conceded  his  nomination  be- 
cause it  was  asked  by  Wolcott  as  a  necessity  of 
the  senatorial  campaign,  and  it  was  understood 
that  Mr.  Teller  was  satisfied  with  the  selection  of 
Wolcott  as  United  States  senator.  In  fact, 
throughout  this  campaign,  while  Mr.  Teller  did 
nothing  whatever  to  influence  the  action  of  the 
convention  or  of  the  legislature,  it  was  plain  that 
notwithstanding  Wolcott's  position  of  leadership 
Mr.  Teller's  influence,  had  it  been  exercised, 
would  have  been  paramount. 

The  first  formal  ballot  resulted:  Tabor,  18(5, 
Moore,  131,  Cooper,  122,  Meldrum,  74,  and  London- 
er, 34.  It  was  perfectly  evident  that  Tabor  had 
reached  high  water  mark,  and  he  practical^  left 
the  race  at  this  ballot.  After  the  vote  was  an- 


124  COOPER   NOMINATED 

nounced  an  arrangement  was  made  between  the 
friends  of  Moore  and  Cooper,  to  the  effect  that  if 
either  should  lead  the  vote  the  other  should 
throw  his  vote,  as  far  as  possible,  for  the  leading 
candidate, and  thus  make  a  nomination. 

The  second  ballot  resulted:  Tabor,  175,  Cooper, 
1,V>,  Moore,  108,  Meldrum,  81,  and  Londoner,  28. 

The  third  ballot  resulted:  Cooper,  199,  Tabor, 
173,  Moore,  86,  Meldrum.  63,  and  Londoner,  27. 

The  Cooper  men  here  made  a  demand  upon 
the  Moore  forces  for  the  carrying-  out  of  their 
compact,  and  were  refused,  Moore's  friends  think- 
ing that  Cooper  had  reached  his  limit,  and  that 
when  he  finally  broke  a  large  share  of  his  follow- 
ing would  go  to  Moore  and  cause  him  to  forge 
into  the  lead.  The  opponents  of  Cooper  were 
strong  enough  to  secure  an  adjournment  until 
afternoon,  and  it  seemed  as  if  Cooper  was  beaten. 
During  the  recess,  however,  a  few  votes  \vere 
gained,  and  when  the  fourth  ballot  was  taken  on 
reassembling,  Cooper  went  up  to  214,  while  Tabor 
had  167,  Moore  90,  Meldrum  60,  and  Londoner  17. 
Jud  Brush  had  been  working  strenuously  for 
West  as  State  Treasurer,  and  had  offered  to  com- 
bine with  Cooper  without  effect,  and  when  it  was 
found  that  the  thirty-two  votes  of  Weld  and 
Washington  would  be  required  to  nominate 
Cooper,  the  votes  of  those  counties  were  expected 
with  considerable  anxiety.  Contrar}^  to  general 
expectation,  both  counties  went  for  Cooper,  and 
one  of  the  most  interesting  gubernatorial  con- 
tests in  the  history  of  the  state,  and  one  which, 
on  the  part  of  the  successful  candidate,  was 


A   HANDSOME   VICTORY  125 

managed  with  consummate  skill,  was  at  an  end. 
The  details  have  been  given  at  considerable 
length  because  they  have  been  made  the  cause  of 
much  recrimination  between  some  of  the  con- 
tending forces. 

The  Democratic  state  convention  met  on  Sep- 
tember 11,  and  nominated  Thomas  M.  Patterson 
for  governor  and  Thomas  Macon  for  Congress. 

In  the  campaign  which  followed  there  was  lit- 
tle of  interest.  The  usual  amount  of  eloquence 
was  expended,  and  Mr.  Londoner,  who  had  been 
made  chairman  of  the  Republican  state  commit- 
tee, perfected  his  organization  with  as  much  care 
as  if  he  had  been  the  leader  of  a  forlorn  hope. 
Mr.  Cleveland's  administration,  however,  had  dis- 
gusted a  large  number  of  the  Democrats  of  Col- 
orado, the  Democratic  candidate  for  governor 
was  objectionable  to  a  strong  element  in  his  own 
part}7,  and  the  handsome  Townsend  had  smiled 
his  way  into  the  hearts  of  the  people.  All  of 
these  causes  made  the  canvass  an  easy  one,  and 
Londoner's  splendid  organization  did  the  rest. 
Little  surprise  was  expressed  when  it  was  found 
that  Harrison  had  received  13,205  plurality,  Town- 
send  12,895  plurality,  and  Cooper  9,293  plurality. 

The  Republicans  were  equally  successful  in 
the  legislature,  which  stood  in  the  senate,  20  Re- 
publicans and  6  Democrats,  and  in  the  house  43 
Republicans  and  6  Democrats — a  majorit}^  of  51 
on  joint  ballot. 

Senator  Bowen  came  home  from  Washington, 
an  avowed  candidate  for  the  senatorial  succes- 


126  SENATORIAL 

sion,  but  could  effect  nothing  against  the  splen- 
did organization  of  the  Wolcott  forces. 

But  while  there  was  no  doubt  that  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Wolcott  in  his  own  behalf  had  been  chief- 
ly instrumental  in  the  election  of  so  large  a  Re- 
publican majorit}7  in  the  legislature,  it  was  at 
first  by  no  means  certain  that  Wolcott  could  be 
elected.  It  had  been  generally  understood  that 
Senator  Teller  was  not  opposed  to  Wolcott  as  bin 
colleague,  and  as  a  result  the  legislature  was 
strongly  for  Wolcott.  On  the  first  or  second  clay 
of  the  session  a  sufficient  number  of  names  had 
been  attached  to  a  written  pledge  to  insure  his 
nomination  in  caucus.  But  Wolcott  was  by  no 
means  easy  regarding  the  matter.  He  knew,  as 
did  every  one  else,  that  notwithstanding  these 
written  pledges,  any  objection  on  the  part  of  Mr 
Teller  would  have  made  his  election  an  impossi- 
bility, and  he  was  not  at  all  satisfied  with  the  sit- 
uation. Ver3T  many  of  these  pledges  had  been 
given  upon  the  distinct  understanding  that  Mr. 
Teller  was  actively  interested  in  Wolcott's  suc- 
cess, and  it  was  important  that  the  fact  should 
square  with  this  understanding.  Mr.  Teller  took 
the  ground  that  of  the  three  candidates  for  the 
senatorship,  Wolcott,  Tabor  and  Bowen,  Wolcott, 
was  the  best  for  the  interests  of  the  state,  and 
that  opinion  was  very  generally  shared  by  the 
members  of  the  legislature.  The  support  of 
Wolcott  was  rather  in  the  nature  of  passive  ac- 
quiescence in  the  necessities  of  the  situation 
than  of  active  partisanship,  and  it  was  with  great 
reluctance  that  man}'  of  Teller's  friends  signed 


WOLCOTT  ELECTED  127 

the  pledge  referred  to.  And  General  Hamill  was 
no  unimportant  factor  in  the  situation.  Mr.  Tel- 
ler was  under  repeated  obligations  to  Hamill, 
and  Wolcott  was  extremely  anxious  that  Hamill 
should  exert  his  influence  with  Teller  toward  in- 
ducing- the  latter  to  make  a  decided  expression 
in  hie  (Wolcott's)  favor.  Hamill  had  indorsed 
Wolcott's  candidacy,  and  readily  undertook  to  see 
Teller  in  response  to  an  appeal  from  Wolcott. 
He  did  so,  and  there  made  an  earnest  effort  for 
Wolcott,  setting  himself  entirely  aside,  and  trans- 
ferring whatever  claims  he  may  have  had  upon 
Mr.  Teller's  consideration  to  Wolcott,  to  whose 
support  he  was  pledged.  Had  this  interview  re- 
sulted differently — had  General  Hamill  been  a 
candidate  for  the  senate,  there  are  strong  proba- 
bilities that  the  story  of  the  senatorial  campaign 
of  1889  would  have  been  differently  written.  In 
the  caucus  Wolcott  received  all  but  15  or  16  votes 
and  was  duly  elected.  It  is  but  just  to  sa}^  that 
he  has  been  a  disappointment  to  his  political  en- 
mies,  and  among  those  who  most  earnestly  op- 
posed his  candidacy  there  are  few  at  this  time  who 
do  not  accord  him  the  credit  of  having  ably  rep- 
resented the  state.  In  the  fight  for  silver  he  was 
always  in  the  front  rank,  while  his  acknowledged 
ability  has  given  him  high  rank  in  the  senate. 

This  assembly  was  the  famous  "  Seventh,"  the 
alleged  corruption  of  which  has  been  the  occa- 
sion of  numerous  philippics,  and  a  vast  amount 
of  rhodomontade  on  the  part  of  certain  politi- 
cians and 'newspapers  desirous  of  manufactur- 
ing public  sentiment  for  the  furtherance  of 


128  THE  SEVENTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 

special  personal  or  political  ends.  The  truth  is* 
that  the  Seventh  General  AssenibU*  cannot  be 
excused  for  the  reckless  extravagance  of  its  man- 
agement of  the  affairs  of  the  state,  but  that  it 
was  a  band  of  thieves,  as  has  been  charged,  is  far 
from  true.  With  a  majority  of  51,  the  temptation 
to  reward  constituents  at  trie-expense  of  the  state 
was  greater  than  man}^  of  the  members  could 
withstand.  If  A  succeeded  in  securing  a  clerk- 
ship for  a  faithful  follower,  B  was  entitled  to 
equal  consideration,  and  if  no  clerkship  was  left 
it  was  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world  to  make  one* 
and  as  C  and  D  had  certain  aspirations  on  behalf 
of  their  friends,  they  were  readil}^  induced  to  vote 
for  B's  measure,  and  so  it  went,  with  the  doors 
thrown  open  to  useless  expenditure,  and  with 
pressure  from  outsiders  whose  maintenance  is 
principally  derived  from  their  alleged  influence 
in  political  conventions,  until  the  sum  total  was 
somewhat  appalling. 

The  real  reasons  of  the  extravagance  of  the 
Seventh  General  Assembly  were  carelessness  and 
the  cupidity  of  the  parties  furnishing  supplies 
for  the  state.  During  the  fifth  general  assembly 
Melvin  Edwards,  then  secretary  of  state,  had  been 
investigated  by  a  legislative  committee,  and  nar- 
rowlj-  escaped  a  severe  scoring.  The  disclosures 
of  this  committee  were  such  that  Senator  Car- 
penter devised  a  sj-stem  of  blanks  for  requisi- 
tions for  supplies,  all  of  which  were  charged  to 
the  individual  members,  which  proved  an  impor- 
tant check  upon  the  extravagance  or  reckless- 
ness of  members.  The  same  system  prevailed 


SEVENTH    ASSEMBLY   INCIDEX'TS  1£) 

during-  the  sixth  general  assembly,  which  was 
one  of  the  most  economical  in  the  history  of  the 
state,  but  \vas  discarded  by  the  seventh,  and  the 
absence  of  an}'  check  or  individual  responsibility 
on  the  part  of  the  members,  together  with  the 
ordering-  of  supplies  by  clerks  and  other  irre- 
sponsible parties,  resulted  in  a  profusion  and 
waste  by  the  members,  and  a  reckless  petty  dis- 
honesty by  the  employes  that  fully  justified  very 
man}-  of  the  charges  made.  Notwithstanding 
this  disgraceful  waste,  recklessness,  and,  in  some 
individual  cases,  dishonest}7*,  the  laws  made  by 
the  seventh  are  among  the  best  on  our  statute 
books,  and  in  point  of  ability  this  assembly 
ranked  at  least  as  high  as  any  of  its  predecessors. 

The  seventh  general  assembly  has  enoug'h  to 
answer  for,  but  its  members  were  saints  in  com- 
parison with  some  who  now  join  in  the  hue  and 
cry  against  them. 

Immediately  after  the  inauguration  of  Gov- 
ernor Cooper  war  broke  out.  In  the  governor's 
message  was  a  recommendation  for  an  arbitra- 
tion law  for  the  settlement  of  disputes  between 
capital  and  labor.  Inasmuch  as  the  supreme 
court  had,  two  years  previously,  in  response  to  a 
request  from  the  legislature,  decided  that  a  com- 
pulsory arbitration  law  would  be  unconstitution- 
al, this  was  regarded  by  many  of  the  members 
as  mere  buncombe,  and  with  some  other  items  in 
the  message,  was  rather  sharply  criticised.  Sen- 
ator Carpenter  was  one  of  the  most  outspoken  of 
the  legislative  critics,  and  was  reported  in  the 
Republican  as  using  strong  and  decidedly  uncom- 


IrK)  SEVENTH    ASSEMBLY    INCIDENTS 

plimentar}'  language  regarding  the  governor. 
The  senate  resented  the  charge  by  excluding  the 
offending  reporter  from  the  privileges  of  the 
floor  of  the  senate  chamber,  and  appointed  a 
committee  of  investigation,  which  found  the  re- 
port of  the  paper  to  have  been  unwarranted  by 
the  facts  and  exonerated  Carpenter,  but  in  the 
discussion  of  the  incident  it  became  painfully 
apparent  that  the  chief  executive  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  assembly  were  not  in  the  most  hearty 
accord. 

Karly  in  the  session  two  incidents  occurred 
which  are  worthy  of  record  as  illustrations  of  the 
good-natured  recklessness  of  the  legislature.  A 
member  who  had  no  place  for  a  constituent 
whom  he  was  particularly  anxious  to  reward  for 
past  services,  introduced  a  resolution  appointing 
him  engineer  of  the  senate.  As  the  senate  was 
not  even  in  possession  of  a  safety  valve,  to  re- 
strain the  bottled  up  energy  of  its  members  un- 
til the  bursting  point  was  reached,  it  had  as  much 
use  for  an  engineer  as  for  a  Greek  professor.  The 
papers  ridiculed  it,  but  the  senate  adopted  the 
resolution,  and  the  state  was  saddled  with  anoth- 
er salary. 

Senator  Montez  was  provided  with  an  inter- 
preter at  a  salary  of  four  dollars  per  day,  but 
this  liberal  compensation  failed  to  satisfy  the 
longings  of  this  descendant  of  the  Montezumas, 
and  therefore  Montez  made  an  effort  to  add  to  the 
arduous  duties  of  his  constituent  those  of  a  com- 
mittee clerkship.  But  there  were  some,  even  in 
the  seventh,  who  objected  to  this  piling  up  of 


S  E  V  KXT 1 1    ASS  K  M  H  L  V  I XC  r  I  >KXTS  1 3 1 

individual  salaries,  and  during*  the  debate  on  the 
merits  of  this  rather  extraordinar}'  proposition, 
the  interested  senator,  while  indulging1  in  a  tor- 
rent of  what  was  supposed  to  be  the  purest  Cas- 
tilian  eloquence,  momentarily  forgot  himself  and 
dropped  into  unmistakable,  though  somewhat 
broken  English,  o-reatl\r  to  the  surprise  of  most 
of  his  hearers. 

The  seventh  general  assembl3T  and  its  acts  had 
much  to  do  with  the  subsequent  political  cam- 
paigns of  the  state. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1888. 
PRESIDENTIAL'  ELECTORS. 


David  H.  Moore 

James  P,  Galloway.. 
F.  F.  Osbiston, 


.....  7)0.772    J.  M.  8.  Egan 

.....  50,774    Chas.  T.  Hughes 

.  .....  50,753    Lonny  Horn 

CONGRESS. 


S7,549 
37,567 


i— Hosea  Townsend... 50,620    Th< 


i  Macon 37.725 


STATE 

Governor — Job  A.  Cooper 

Lt-Gov.  — Wm.  G.  Smith 

Secy  St'e— James  Rice 

Treas.  — W.  H.  Brisbane 

Auditor  — Louis  Schwanbeck. 

Atty  Gen— S.  W.  Jones 

Superintendent  of  Public  Inst 

—Fred  Dick 

Hcgents  of  the  University 

— Chas.  R.Dudley.... 

— S.  H.  Giffen.... 


OFFICERS. 

...49,490  T.  M.  Patterson. 

...50,584  J.  A.  Porter ., 

...51,023  W.  R.  Earhart.. 

...49,652  F.  Rohrer 

...50,979  S.  W.Keene 

...50,746  J.  M.  Abbott 

ruction 

..51,127  John  L.  Howe. .. 


..50,784    Chas.  Ambrook.. 
50,706    F.A.Chavez... 


..39,197 
..87,888 

. .37,710 
..38,507 
..37,414 
..37,647 

.  .37,272 

..37,653 

..37,813 


JUDICIARY. 

Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 


—Chas.  D.  Hayt  
—  Victor  A.  Elliott*. 

...50,737 

.51,790 

M.  B.Gerry  
A.  J.  Rising 

..38,760 
37  610 

District  Judges 
1st  Dist.  —  C.  S.  Becker  

....  3C64 

A.  H.  DeFrance. 

2508 

'Mr  lk  —  W  S  Decker 

5036 

Sam  P  Rose 

3045 

:M       "     —  W.  S.  Decker  
—  G.  W.Allen  
3d      "         J  C  El  well 

.  .  .11.1515 
.  ..11,411 

7:*85 

S.  E.  Browne  
\V.  W.  Cover  
J  C  Gunter 

,...8270 
...8282 
8117 

4th  "  —John  Campbell  
5th  "  —  John  M.  Maxwell... 
«th  "  —  Geo.  T.  Sumner  
7th  "  Alex  Gullett 

....5065 
...  3751 
4610 
3257 

Wm.  Harrison  
L.  M.  Goddard  
R.  A.  Quillian  
John  C  Bell 

...4178 
...3845 
...3897 
3648 

sthi  "  —  T  M.  Robinson 

.  ..riiir, 

A.  P.  Rittenhouse. 

3867 

Hth  "  S  S  Downer 

6776 

C.  A.-  Bennett. 

4501 

9th;  "  —Porter  Plumb  
9th  "  J  L  Hodges 

...  .1265 
.  2359 

Thos.  A.  Rucker.  .  .  . 
Thos.  A.  Rucker. 

...2785 
3157 

*To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Samuel  H.  El- 
bert. 

tAdditional  Judge  provided  for  in  Second  Judicial  district  by 
the  Sixth  General  Assemble.  Elected  at  general  election  of  1887. 

tNew  districts,  created  by  the  Sixth  General  Assembly.  Elect- 
ed at  general  election  in  1887. 


OFFICIAL   VOTE   1888— CONTINUED 


133 


District  Attorneys 

1st  Dist.*-E.  W.  Hurlbut 


1st 
2d 
3d 
4th 
5thf 
oth 
6th    ' 
7th    ' 
SthJ  ' 
8th    ' 
9tl4  ' 
9th    ' 


-Wm.  A.  Dier 

— Isaac  N.  Stevens 

— W.  W.  Dunbar 

— B.  F.  Garrison 

— T.  A.  Dickson..! 

— T.  A.  Dickson 

— Chas.  A.  Johnson 

--Herschell  M.  Hogg... 

— S.  S.  Downer 

—James  E.  Garrigues.,. 

—Ed  L.  Taylor.. 

— J.  E.  Rockwell 


...2921    Scattering 7 

. .  .3196    W.  C.  Fullerton 2215 

.  11,496    L.  R.  Rhodes 8145 

...7818    J.  H.  Maupin 7644 

...5425    Geo.  L.  Horine 3714 

.  . .  3328     P.  O'Farrell 3237 

. . .  4112    P.  O'Farrell 3463 

...4281    R.  McCloskey 4075 

...3947    W.S.Wallace 2869 

. . .  5716    F.  J.  Annis 3482 

. . .  6820    James  Donivan 4137 

.  1992    B.  H.  Butcher 1958 

..2812    R.L.  Weaver 2671 


SEVENTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 


President  pro  tern.  M.  B.  Carpenter.    Secretary  —  W.  B.  Felton. 

1st  Dist.  —  James  W.  McCreery 

llth  Dist,—  C.  J.  Christian 

2d     " 

—  E.  A.  Ballard 

—Samuel  Adams 

3d     " 

-R.  H.  Whitely,  Jr. 

—John  Y.  Oliver 

4th    " 

—  S.  V.  C.  Newell 

12th 

44    —  Wm.  Gelder 

5th    " 

—  R.  B.  Weiser 

13th 

"    -JohnKinkaid 

6th    " 

—John  H.  Poole 

14th 

44    —Jas.  A.  McCandless 

—  M.  B.  Carpenter 

15th 

"    —Chas.  H.  Abbott 

—  C.  T.  Harkinson 

16th 

44    —Fred  Betts 

—  F.  T.  Cochrane 

17th 

44    —  E.  T.  Beckwith 

7th    " 

-R.  C.  Wells 

18th 

•'    —  Casimero  Barela 

8th    " 

-C.  E.  Nobleg 

19th 

44    —  Juan  De  Montez 

9th    " 

—  Jas  F.  Gardner 

20th 

44    -Wm.  H.Adams 

10th  " 

—  D.  C.  Bailey 

21st 

44    —  Adair  Wilson 

*To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  S.  S.  Downer.  Elect- 
ed at  general  election  of  1887. 

fTo  fill  vacaney  caused  by  resignation  of  Wm.  Kellogg.  Elect- 
ed at  general  election  of  1887. 

JNew  districts  created  by  the  Sixth  General  Assembly.  Elec- 
tion held  at  general  election  of  1887. 

§To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  John  Campbell. 


134 


SEVENTH    GENERAL 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Speaker— H.  H.  Eddy. 

Arapahoe     — D.  J.  Brophy 
— F.  A.  Metcalf 
—E.  M.  Cranston 
— Thos.  H.  Mitchell 
—P.  Feldhauser 
—Thos.  A.  Wilson 
— S.  H,  Hastings 
-C.  J.  Harris; 

Archuleta  and  Conejos 
-C.Yaldez 

Bent  — James  Swift 

Boulder        — S.  S.  Merry 
— S.  Budd 
— H.  Prince 

Chaffee        — Chas.  S.  Libby 

Clear  Creek— Robt.  B.  Griswold 
—Samuel  A.  King 

Costilla        —  M.  A.  Sanchez 

Custer          — O.  E.  Sperry 
— Wm.  Kettle 

Delta,  Gunnison,  Mesa, 
Montrose  and  Pitkin 

-I.  W.  Chatfield 

Dolores,  Ouray  and  San  Miguel 
— A.  G.  Dunbar 

Douglas       —P.  W.  O'Brien 
Eagle,  Garfield  and  Summit 

— C.  A*  Bartholomew 


Clerk— R.  M.  Stevenson, 
Elbert       — E.  P.  Clark 
El  Paso     — H.  H.  Grafton 

— C.  D.  Ford 

Fremont    —  W.  J.  Phillips 
Gilpin        — James  R.  Hicks 

-E.  W.Hurlbut 
Grand  <fe 

Routt        — H,  H.  Eddy 
Hinsdale  — H.  E.  Armitage 
Huerfano—  M.  A.  Vigil 
Jefferson  —John  J.  Clark 

-C.  M.  Kellogg 
Lako         — Jos.  Purcell 

— Geo.  P.  Copeland 

-F.  M.  Myrick 

-S.  F.  Parish 
La  Plata — Jno.  G.  Price 
Larimer  — J.  M.  Davidson 
Las  Animas— R.  L.  Wootton 

—A.  Hughes 
Logan,  Washington  and  Weld 

—Geo.  C.  Reed 

Park          —Webster  Ballinger 
Pueblo      — L.  F.  Carlile 

— Wm.  B.  Ebbert 
Rio  Grande— J.  H.  Shaw 
Saguache   — J.  D.  Baldwin 
San  Juan    — H.  G.  Heffron 


SIX  YEARS  is  an  unusually  long  time 
Io90  for  the  Prevalence  of  political  harmony 
in  the  historj^  of  Colorado.  Since  the 
general  election  of  1884  there  had  been  but  a 
trifling-  display  of  factional  feeling- — not  enough 
to  cause  any  serious  disturbance  of  the  internal 
arrangements  of  either  of  the  two  leading  par- 
ties. But  this  long  period  of  peace  had  been 
productive  of  considerable  feeling  between  the 
different  sections  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
a  favorable  opportunity  was  all  that  was  needed 
to  cause  the  smouldering  embers  of  factionalism 
to  break  into  a  furious  blaze.  Old  wounds  had 
reopened,  and  new  ones  had  been  inflicted,  and 
very  early  in  1890  it  was  evident  that  the  prelimi- 
nary campaign  would  be  one  of  great  bitterness. 

That  the  Republican  party  of  Colorado  has 
maintained  a  vigorous  personality  despite  the 
several  attacks  upon  its  organization  since  the 
spring  of  1889,  is  proof  sufficient  of  its  intense 
vitality  and  the  vigor  of  its  principles,  whether 
those  principles  are  right  or  wrong.  Had  the 
most  determined  enemies  of  that  party  been  de- 
sirous of  doing  that  which  should  inflict  upon  it 
the  most  serious  injury  they  could  have  done  no 
worse  than  has  ^been  done  by  its  professed 
friends. 

In  order  to  arrive  at  a  proper  understanding 
of  the  situation  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign 


136  A  STORM    BKKWIXti 

of  1890,  it  is  necessary  to  briefly  glance  at  the 
condition  of  affairs  in  Arapahoe  count}^  during 
the  preceding  3^ear. 

The  success  of  Wolfe  Londoner,  as  chairman 
of  the  state  committee  during  the  campaign  of 
1888  resulted  in  his  nomination  forma^-or  of  Den- 
ver in  the  spring  of  1889.  His  candidacy  was  not 
received  with  enthusiasm  by  a  large  fraction  of 
the  party,  which  regarded  it  as  a  reward  for  ser- 
vices rendered  in  the  election  of  Wolcott  to  the 
.senate.  Whether  this  sentiment  was  warranted 
or  not  it  had  its  effect,  and  sufficient  opposition 
developed  to  narrow  the  margin  of  victory  to 
such  dimensions  as  to  afford  reasonable  grounds 
for  contest,  of  which  the  Democrac3'  were  not 
slow  in  taking  advantage,  and  though  the  law's 
delays  permitted  him  to  retain  his  seat  up  to 
within  a  few  days  of  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
the  cloud  upon  his  title  greatly  impaired  his  use- 
fulness in  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
city.  While  Londoner's  administration  was  wor- 
thy of  praise,  and  he  received  the  compliment 
subsequently  of  being  the  best  maj'or  in  the  his- 
tory of  Denver,  he  was  unable  to  control  the  acts 
of  the  minor  city  officials,  concerning  whom 
a  deep  distrust  existed  — a  distrust  which  was  af- 
terwards amply  justified  in  the  courts.  The  situ- 
ation therefore  offered  a  fa  vorable  opportunity  for 
the  indulgence  of  that  bitterness  in  the  struggles 
between  the  outs  and  the  ins  for  which  Arapahoe 
countjr  had  of  late  years  been  distinguished. 

Added  to  this  was  the  more  serious  fact  that 
immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  sev- 


CAUSES  OE  THE  BREAK  137 

enth  general  assembly  members  and  officers  of 
that  bod}'  had  been  charged,  not  only  with  crim- 
inal extravagance  in  the  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  the  state,  but  with  thievery,  briber}' 
and  corruption.  It  was  alleged  that  the  property 
of  the  state  had  been  stolen  by  the  members  and 
hangers-on  about  the  legislature;  that  the  terms 
of  contracts  for  furnishing  supplies  had  been 
deliberately  and  criminally  violated;  that  war- 
rants had  been  illegally  issued  for  alleged  ser- 
vices never  rendered,  and  for  supplies  never  re- 
ceived, and  that  offices  had  been  needlessly  mul- 
tiplied for  the  benefit  of  heelers.  Unfortunately, 
many  of  these  charges  were  afterward  made 
good  in  the  courts,  but  at  the  time  the}'  were  first 
made,  the  sole  purpose  was  the  laying  of  a 
foundation  for  an  attempt  to  wrest  the  party  con- 
trol from  the  hands  of  those  who  seemed  to  have 
secured  it. 

Weak  nominations  by  the  Republicans  of 
Arapahoe  county  for  county  offices  in  the  fall  of 
1883  assisted  very  materially  the  plans  of  the 
outs.  During  the  summer  of  that  year  the  city 
council  of  Denver  had  excited  an  intense  feeling 
by  granting  saloon  licenses  in  the  residence  por- 
tions of  the  city.  This  feeling  extended  to  every 
residence  ward,  and  a  most  determined  effort  to 
nominate  for  sheriff,  Walter  Conway,  then  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  aldermen,  was  met  by  fierce 
resistance.  When  the  convention  met,  it  being 
evident  that  Conway  had  a  majority  of  the  dele- 
gates, earnest  protests  against  his  nomination 
\vere  made  by  leading*  Republicans  from  all  parts 


138        .  REPUBLICANS   DEFEATED 

of  the  city,  who  knew  that  Conway  could  not  re- 
ceive the  support  of  the  better  element  of  the 
part}-.  The  majority  knew  what  it  was  there  for, 
however,  and  merel}^  laughed,  nominating-  Con- 
way  with  scarcel}'  an  effort.  The  result  was  what 
might  have  been  anticipated,  had  any  regard 
been  paid  to  the  manifest  trend  of  public  opinion. 
Conway  was  beaten  by  Barton  by  2066  plurality; 
.Lipscomb,  for  county  judge,  whose  personal,  le- 
gal, and  moral  qualifications  were  beyond  ques- 
tion, was  a  relative  of  John  A.  Deweese,  who  was 
wrongfully  charged  with  having  compassed  the 
nomination  of  Conway,  and  was  defeated  by 
Judge  Miller  by  4006  plurality;  John  L.  Fetzer, 
nominee  for  county  assessor,  with  nothing  spe- 
cially against  him,  was  defeated  by  Brinker  by 
nearly  4000  plurality;  Rogers,  for  coroner,  was 
defeated  by  Walley  by  1129  plurality;  Rising,  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  district  judge,  defeated 
T.  B.  Stuart  by  about  2000  plurality,  and  Joseph 
H.  Smith,  Republican  nominee  for  county  clerk, 
received  but  about  1000  pluralit}-.  During  the  en- 
tire campaign  the  Republican  gave  its  support  to 
the  Citizens'  ticket,  which  was  successful  in  elect- 
ing the  officers  named. 

Of  course  such  an  overturning  of  the  part}r 
organization  could  not  fail  to  have  an  influence 
on  the  following  campaign,  and  when,  in  the 
summer  of  1890,  the  time  drew  near  for  making 
preparations  for  the  fall  campaign,  it  was  appa- 
rent that  there  would  be  a  sharp  and  bitter  con- 
test for  the  mastery  between  the  contending  fac- 
tions, with  no  certainty  of  the  result. 


kovv  ix  THE  COUNTY  COMMITTEE.          139 

When  the  Republican  count}'  committee  of 
Arapahoe  county  met  on  September  4,  for  the 
purpose  of  fixing-  a  date  for  the  county  conven- 
tion, and  for  the  appointment  of  judges  of  the 
primaries,  it  was  found  that  the  faction  afterward 
known  as  the  "Gang  Smashers,"  led'by  W.  G.  Kv- 
ans,  C.  F.  Meek,  R.  K.  Foote,  Samuel  Lesem  and 
others,  had  31  votes,  while  the  so-called  ''Gang," 
led  by  Joseph  H.  Smith,  Geo.  Graham,  Henry 
Brady,  W.  H.  Smith  and  W.  H.  Griffith,  were  rep- 
resented by  44  votes.  It  was  charged  by  the  Re- 
publican that  the  majority  of  the  committee  had 
prepared  a  slate,  which  it  proposed  to  put 
through  at  all  hazards,  consisting  of  Routt  for 
governor  and  Jack  Fessler  for  state  treasurer, 
while  Henry  Brad}"  was  to  be  rewarded  with  chief 
of  the  Denver  police  force,  and  W.  H.  Smith  was 
to  be  satisfied  with  the  wardenship  of  the  peni- 
tentiary. While  there  is  no  doubt  that  Routt  was 
a  full-fledged  candidate  for  the  gubernatorial 
nomination,  the  charge  of  the  Republican  brought 
Mr.  Fessler's  candidacy  into  a  prominence  which 
it  had  not  theretofore  enjoyed,  and  was  undoubt- 
edly of  considerable  influence  in  securing  his 
nomination  through  the  antagonism  which  had 
been  developed  against  itself. 

The  contest  in  the  committee  was  over  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  primary  judges.  It  was  con- 
tended by  Mr.  Kvans  and  his  friends  that  they 
should  be  appointed  in  each  voting  place  by  the 
member  of  the  committee  for  that  precinct,  while 
Messrs.  Smith,  Graham  and  their  following  in- 
sisted that  the}'  should  be  appointed  by  the 


UO  ARAPAHOE   PRIMARIES 

whole  committee.  This,  it  was  charged  by  the 
minority,  was  for  the  purpose  of  securing-  a  cut- 
and-driecl  convention.  The  debate  was  protract- 
ed and  warm,  but  the  majority  ruled,  and  the 
committee  appointed  the  judges. 

The  fact  is  that  the  matter  of  the  appointment 
of  the  judges  was  simply  the  preliminary  skir- 
mish between  the  two  factions  for  the  advantage 
of  position.  Had  the  demands  of  the  minority 
been  conceded  the  minority  members  would,  if 
possible  have  appointed  judges  whose  precincts 
would  return  a  majorit3r  of  the  delegates  to  the 
convention,  and  this  struggle  over  the  appoint- 
ment of  judges,  imp^ing,  as  it  did,  that  the  judge 
of  a  primar}-  might  be  necessary  to  the  success  of 
his  faction,  and  thus  suggesting  possible  fraud, 
was  creditable  to  neither  side. 

The  primaries  were  held  on  September  13,  and 
in  most  of  the  wards  of  the  city  were  character- 
ized by  the  most  bare-faced  fraud  and  corruption, 
by  no  means  confined  to  one  faction.  The  end, 
not  the  means,  was  the  only  object  of  considera- 
tion. Each  side  was  determined  to  carry  its  point 
by  any  methods  at  command,  and  while  the 
"  Gang  Smashers"  charged  the  "  Gang"  with  cor- 
ruption and  fraud,  it  is  a  notorious  fact  that 
many  of  the  worst  heelers  in  the  city,  who  had 
fattened  upon  the  spoils  resulting  from  their  pe- 
culiar methods,  and  had  devoted  themselves  to 
the  politics  of  the  gutter  as  a  business  for  years, 
were  the  chosen  instruments  of  the  "Gang 
Smashers/'  and  were  shouting  for  purit}^  in  the 
politics  which  they  had  assisted  in,  and  were 


MODEL   DENVER   PRIMARIES  141 

even  then  engaged  in  doing-  their  very  best  to- 
ward corrupting-.  Honors  were  about  even; 
there  were  as  good  citizens  on  one  side  as  anoth- 
er; one  side  was  as  worthy  of  recognition  as  the 
other;  neither  side  was  inspired  by  any  higher 
motive  than  the  natural  desire  to  be  on  top,  and 
both  sides  showed  during  the  campaign  that 
they  were  perfectly  willing  to  sacrifice  the  party 
for  the  purpose  of  beating  the  other  fellows. 

In  the  first  ward  it  was  claimed  by  the  "  Gang 
Smashers"  that  the  admission  of  fraudulent 
votes  had  alone  caused  the  defeat  of  their  ticket, 
and  the  defeated  delegates  contested. 

In  the  second  ward  the  judges  appointed  by 
the  committee  refused  to  admit  parties  claiming 
to  have  authority  to  remain  in  the  polling  place 
as  watchers.  The  doors  of  the  polling  place 
were  broken  down  with  a  heavy  timber,  and  the 
watchers  entered,  whereupon  the  judges  took 
their  departure,  and  opened  another  polling 
place  across  the  street,  in  a  saloon,  while  at  the 
appointed  place  new  judges  were  elected,  and 
two  delegations  were  elected  to  the  county  con- 
vention. 

In  the  third  ward  the  "Smashers"  were  tri- 
umphant. 

In  the  fourth  ward  the  judges  were  arrested 
for  stuffing  the  ballot-box,  and  on  this  fact  were 
based  allegations  of  fraud  sufficient  to  change 
the  result,  and  the  seats  of  the  "Gang"  delegates 
were  contested  by  their  defeated  opponents. 

In  the  fifth  ward  the  grossest  frauds  were  al- 
leged to  have  been  perpetrated  in  the  interest  of 


I ±2  T It E   U S U  A  L    CO X  i  H S  1  s 

the  "Gang"  ticket,  and  the  defeated  delegatiotl 
contested. 

In  the  sixth  ward  the  "Gang"  ticket  was  elect- 
ed without  a  contest,  and  in  the  seventh  the 
"Smashers"  won  easily. 

The  eighth  ward  primary  had  been  called  to 
meet  at  the  armory  on  Curtis  street.  On  the  day 
preceding  the  primary  acting-Governor  Smith 
issued  an  order  in  which  he  recited  that  he  had 
received  information  to  the  effect  that  an  arrange- 
ment had  been  made  whereby  certain  parties 
were  to  take  possession  of  the  armory  the  night 
before,  and  hold  it  during  the  da}-,  permitting  no 
one  to  enter  during  the  holding  of  tke  primaries, 
and  receiving  the  ballots  through  a  small  aper- 
ture, with  intent  to  defraud  the  people  and  pre- 
vent an  honest  election.  He  therefore  directed 
that  Colonel  K.J.  Brooks,  custodian  of  the  armory, 
should  be  [instructed  to  permit  no  Jone  to  occu- 
py the  armor}*  until  the  hour  of  2  o'clock  p.  m., 
and  at  that  hour  to  throw  the  armor}-  open  to 
every  one  who  chose  to  enter.  In  accordance 
with  his  instructions  Colonel  Brooks  refused  ad- 
mittance to  the  crowd  until  the  hour  named  in 
the  call,  when  the  doors  were  opened.  But  the 
regularly  appointed  judges  were  not  present, 
and  after  some  time,  it  was  announced  that  the 
judges,  upon  the  pretext  that  it  was  impossible 
to  hold  a  peaceable  primary  in  the  armory,  on 
account  of  the  governor's  order,  had  removed 
the  polling  place  to  an  obscure  point  on  an  alley 
near  by.  The  voters  present,  on  learning  this  fact' 
immediately  selected  new  judges,  and  proceeded 


A  BOLT  IN  ARAPAHOE  143 

to  hold  an  election  in  the  place  appointed  by  the 
committee.  The  result  was  a  contesting-  delega- 
tion, each  delegation  claiming  to  have  been  le- 
gally elected. 

In  the  ninth  ward,  the  same  charge  of  corrup- 
tion, fraud  and  ballot-box  stuffing  was  made,  and 
a  contest  against  the  successful  "Gang"  ticket 
was  thrown  into  the  convention. 

The  county  convention  met  in  the  15th  street 
theatre,  and  a  scene  of  the  most  disgraceful  char- 
acter resulted-from  the  struggle  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  convention.  Dr.  J.  W.  Graham  was 
chairman  of  the  committee,  and  the  absorbing 
question  was:  which  of  the  contesting  delega- 
tions from  the  second  and  eighth  wards  would 
be  permitted  to  vote  in  the  preliminary  organiza- 
tion. The  chairman  finally  decided  to  recognize 
the  delegation  which  had  been  elected  at  the  ar- 
mory as  the  eighth  ward  delegates,  and  one-half 
from  each  of  the  contesting  delegations  from  the 
second  ward.  On  this  ruling  John  E.  Leet,  rep- 
resenting the  "  Gang  Smashers,"  was  chosen  tem- 
porary chairman  by  a  vote  of  IGS1/^  to  149%  for  F. 
B.  Hill. 

Mr.  Leet  was  no  tyro  in  scenes  of  this  charac- 
acter.  He  had  participated  in  Louisiana  politics 
during  the  stormy  days  of  the  reconstruction  pe- 
riod, and  knew  perfectly  well  what  was  required 
of  him.  In  the  appointment  of  the  credentials 
committee  the  "  Gang  "was  not  recognized,  and 
when  that  committee  reported  every  "Gang"  del- 
egate from  the  six  contested  wards  of  the  city 
was  unseated.  The  high-handed  manner  in 


144  TWO   CONVENTIONS    IN    SKSSioX 

which  the  plans  of  the  "  Smashers  "  was  carried 
out  had  never  been  equalled  in  the  political  his- 
tory of  the  count}',  but  the  stake  played  for,  the 
absolute  control  of  the  political  situation  in 
Arapahoe  count}',  perhaps  justified  the  means 
resorted  to.  At  onetime  a  riot  seemed  inevitable, 
but  wiser  counsels  prevailed,  and  the  rejected 
delegates  left  the  theater  and  organised  a  bolting- 
convention  in  Turn  Hall,  for  the  purpose  of  car- 
rying the  contest  before  the  state  convention. 

Each  side  now  having  its  own  convention, 
conducted  its  affairs  with  calm  deliberation.  Dr. 
Graham  was  sent  for  by  the  Turn  HalJ  conven- 
tion, and  in  a  few  words  plainly  expressed  his 
disapproval  of  the  action  of  the  Fifteenth  street 
body,  and  called  the  "Gang"  convention  to  order. 
Each  side  elected  a  full  delegation  to  the  state 
convention.  The  Fifteenth  street  convention 
nominated  a  full  county  ticket,  while  its  rival  ad- 
journed to  await  the  action  of  the  state  conven- 
tion. 

During  this  contest,  which  has  been  given  in 
full  because  of  its  subsequent  influence  upon 
the  campaign,  an  earnest  effort  was  made  by  the 
"  Smashers"  to  induce  the  belief  that  the  "  Gang" 
was  organized  for  the  defeat  of  Senator  Teller, 
who  was  in  the  field  for  re-election,  his  term  ex- 
piring on  March  4,  3891.  The  Republican,  in  sup- 
porting this  assertion,  was  forced  into  the  un- 
wonted and  anomalous  attitude  of  a  supporter  of 
Senator  Teller,  but  plainly  disclosed  its  animus 
in  a  cartoon  representing  Wolcott  in  the  act  of 
plunging  a  knife  into  the  back  of  Senator  Teller, 


kKPl'BlvlCAN    HTATK  CONVENTION  145 

while  the  fact  is  incontrovertible  that  there  was 
not  at  that  time  a  leader  of  the  Republican  part} 
of  Colorado  who  dared  oppose  the  re-election  of 
Senator  Teller,  and  few,  if  any,  who  desired  his 
defeat.  While  the  old  and  tried  friends  of  Mr. 
Teller  were  mostly  with  the  "Gang/'  and  the  old 
Hill-Wolcott  faction  generally  with  the  "Smash- 
ers," it  must  be  admitted  that  they  were  all  in  fa- 
vor of  Mr.  Teller,  \vho«e  re-election  was  a  conced- 
ed necessity.  It  was  not  that  the  Republican  liked 
Teller  more,  but  that  it  liked  Wolcott  less. 

The  state  convention  met  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  after  the  election  of  Alex.  Gullett  as 
temporal-}^  chairman,  and  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  on  credentials,  adjourned  to  the  fol- 
lowing- day.  It  was  plain  that  the  "Gang,4'  so- 
called,  wTas  in  the  ascendant,  and  a  strong  effort 
was  made  to  secure  the  recognition  of  the 
"Gang"  delegation  from  Arapahoe  .count}'.  The 
credentials  committee  listened  to  both  sides,  and 
in  all  probability  earnestly  endeavored  to  arrive 
at  a  just  conclusion  upon  the  merits  of  the  ques- 
tion. The  matter  was  discussed  in  all  its  bear- 
ing's, and  the  session  of  the  committee  was  pro- 
tracted far  into  the  night. 

When  the  convention  reassembled  on  the  18th, 
the  credentials  committee  was  still  wrestling* 
with  the  problem,  and  an  adjournment  was  taken 
until  1  p.  m.  At  that  hour  the  committee  pre- 
sented its  report.  It  recognized  neither  conven- 
tion, but  reported  having  gone  behind  the  re- 
turns, and  finding  that  in  the  wards  and  pre- 
cincts which  had  given  credentials  to  the  Koutt 


11(5  ARAPAHOE   DELEGATES   DIVIDED 

or  "  Gang"  faction,  169  delegates  had  been  elected, 
while  the  other  faction  had  elected  151  delegates. 
On  this  basis  the  committee  reported  in  favor  of 
seating  02  "Gang"  and  55  "  Smasher "  delegates. 

Byron  L.  Carr,  of  the  committee,  presented  a 
minorit}^  report  in  favor  of  seating  the  entire  del- 
egation presented  by  the  Fifteenth  street  conven- 
tion, and  headed  by  H.  A.  W.  Tabor.  The  minori- 
ty report  was  rejected,  421  to  105,  and  the  majori- 
ty report  adopted  by  the  same  vote. 

The  02  "Gang1' delegates  promptl}-  marched 
into  the  Convention  and  took  their  seats,  but  the 
"  Smashers"  refused  to  go  into  the  convention 
unless  the  entire  delegation  was  admitted,  and 
the  convention  went  on  with  its  business. 

The  contest  for  the  nominations  was  some- 
what tame  after  the  exciting  events  in  Arapahoe 
county.  Routt  was  the  only  candidate  who  had 
made  any  special  effort  for  the  gubernatorial 
nomination,  and  though  several  others  were 
spoken  of,  and  some  slight  efforts  were  made  to- 
ward organising  an  opposition  to  his  nomination, 
it  was  soon  shown  that  no  acceptable  candidate 
upon  whom  the  delegates  could  unite  was  before 
the  convention  except  Routt,  and  he  was  nomi- 
nated by  acclamation. 

Townsend  was  renominated  by  acclamation 
and  Professor  Dick  for  superintendent  of  public 
instruction,  Sam  Jones,  for  attorne3r-general,  and 
J.  H.  Fessler  for  treasurer,  were  made  the  nomi- 
nees of  the  part}*.  In  regard  to  the  latter  office,  a 
\ery  decided  sentiment  had  arisen  in  the  state  in 
favor  of  turning  the  interest  derived  from  state 


ARAPAHOE   CONTEST  147 

funds  into  the  treasury.  The  contestants  for  the 
nomination  for  treasurer  were  required  to  pledge 
themselves  to  turn  over  all  interest  derived  from 
the  deposit  of  state  funds,  and  did  so  promptly 
and  full}'.  None  of  the  pledges  made  were  more 
frank  and  sweeping  than  that  of  Mr.  Fessler,  and 
it  was  felt  that  in  his  nomination  all  demands  of 
the  people  had  been  complied  with.  E.  M.  Ash- 
ley was  chosen  as  chairman,  and  N.  H.  Meldrum 
as  secretar3T  of  the  committee. 

The  moment  the  convention  adjourned  the 
chairman  was  confronted  by  a  serious  problem. 
So  far  as  the  respective  merits  of  the  contending 
factions  were  concerned,  the  convention  had  de- 
cided nothing,  except  by  implication,  in  giving 
the  "Gang  "a  rnajorit}-  of  the  Arapahoe  county 
representation.  It  had  officially  recognized  nei- 
ther convention,  but  had  left  the  settlement  of  the 
Arapahoe  county  troubles  entirely  in  the  hands 
of  the  chairman  of  the  state  committee.  The 
"Gang"  claimed  that  by  deciding  that  it  had 
elected  a  majority  of  the  delegates  to  the  county 
convention,  the  state  convention  had  given  a 
quasi  recognition  to  the  Turn  Hall  convention. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  " Smashers"  insisted  that 
the  "  Gang/'  by  remaining  in  t*he  convention  after 
its  organization  and  participating  in  the  selec- 
tion of  the  committee  on  credentials  and  the  sub- 
sequent proceedings,  had  forfeited  its  right  of 
appeal,  and  that  the  chairman  of  the  state  com- 
mittee, in  the  exercise  of  his  dut}r  in  settling  the 
controversy,  had  the  example  of  the  state  con- 
vention to  warrant  his  going  behind  the  returns, 


148  KNIFING   THE   TICKET 

and  passing-  upon  the  honest}'  of  the  primaries. 
During  all  of  this  controversy  there  was  a  con- 
stant effort  on  the  part  of  the  Republican  to  make 
it  appear  that  the  "Gang'"  leaders  were  in  a  plot 
to  defeat  Mr.  Teller,  and  that  Mr.  Wolcott  was  in 
the  conspiracy. 

In  the  month  of  February  preceding  the  state 
land  board  had  sold  in  the  usual  manner  a  tract 
of  school  land  near  Argo  to  \V.  C.  Lothrop  &  Co., 
for  $204.50  per  acre.  This  sale  had  been  fiercely 
denounced  by  the  Republican.  It  was  alleged  that 
three  times  as  much  could  have  been  realized  by 
the  board;  that  it  was  a  steal;  that  the  proper  le- 
gal steps  had  not  been  taken,  and  that  therefore 
the  sale  was  void.  Messrs.  Dick  and  Jones,  nomi- 
nees for  superintendent  of  public  instruction 
and  attorney-general  respectively,  were  members 
of  the  land  board  when  the  sale  was  made,  and 
for  that  reason  their  election  was  \  igorousl}-  op- 
posed by  the  Republican.  That  paper  also  made 
repeated  calls  upon  Mr.  Fessler,  candidate  for 
state  treasurer,  to  make  a  public  pledge  regard- 
ing the  interest  on  state  funds.  Fessler  made  no 
reply  to  the  demand,  and  therefore  came  in  for 
his  share  of  the  opposition  of  the  Republican.  In 
one  of  the  cartoons  bearing  on  this  question  the 
heads  of  the  ticket  were  represented  as  canning 
the  three  candidates  named,  while  in  another 
General  Hamill,  A.  M.  Stevenson  and  Henry  Bra- 
dy were  represented  as  hanging-  on  a  boat  rowed 
by  the  Republican  candidates.  Not  an  opportu- 
nity was  lost  by  the  Republican  in  its  fight  against 
Dick,  Jones  and  Fessler,  and  in  its  attempts  to 


DEMOCRATIC   NOMINATIONS  149 

create  a  belief  in  its  support  of  Mr.  Teller,  and 
its  charge  that  he  was  being-  sacrificed  by  the 
"  Gang."  It  is  idle  to  claim  that  these  efforts 
were  without  effect  in  compassing  the  defeat  of 
the  candidates  named.  There  is  no  question  to_ 
day  that  the  principal  factor  in  the  controversies 
of  1890,  which  so  nearly  led  to  the  defeat  of  the 
Republican  party,  was  the  Denver  Republican. 
Whether  right  or  wrong,  its  fight  was  effective. 

While  the  final  settlement  of  the  factional  con- 
troversy in  Arapahoe  county  was  in  abeyance 
several  matters  affecting  the  situation  occurred. 

On  September  24  the  Democratic  state  conven- 
tion met  in  Denver.  A  canvass  of  the  situation 
disclosed  the  fact  that  it  would  be  difficult  to 
find  a  candidate  for  governor.  The  nomination 
was  offered  to  J.  B.  Grant,  Alva  Adams,  Judge 
Ballarcl,  Myron  Reed,  and  Judge  Harrison,  and 
declined.  Lafe  Pence  wanted  it,  and  was  impor- 
tunate in  his  efforts  to  secure  the  nomination. 
Finally  Judge  Yeaman  was  induced  to  accept  the 
nomination  if  made.  Pence  was  also  before  the 
convention,  and  remained  until  it  was  evident 
that  he  would  be  smothered,  when  he  withdrew, 
and  Judge  Yeaman  was  nominated  by  acclama- 
tion. Thomas  O'Donnell  of  Arapahoe  was  nomi- 
nated for  congress.  Democrats  felt  somewhat 
hopeful  regarding  the  three  offices  of  state  treas- 
urer, attorney-general,  and  superintendent  of 
public  instruction,  and  for  those  offices  made 
three  of  the  best  nominations  ever  made  b}^  the 
party  in  the  state,  naming  James  N.  Carlile  for 
treasurer,  J.  H.  Maupin  for  attorney-general,  ahd 


150  ARAPAHOE  CASE  DECIDED 

N.  B.  Co}'  for  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion. 

On  September  26  Mr.  Carlile,  Democratic  can- 
didate for  treasurer,  made  a  public,  written 
pledge  in  regard  to  the  interest  on  state  funds, 
and  this  declaration  afforded  the  opportunit}'  for 
the  Republican  to  make  dail}-  demands  upon  Mr. 
Fessler  to  do  likewise. 

On  September  27  the  Turn  Hall  convention  re- 
assembled and  placed  in  nomination  a  full  legis- 
lative and  count}7  ticket.  There  was  no  longer 
an}-  hope  of  a  satisfactor}T  compromise,  and  the 
energies  of  both  the  Republican  and  the  Times 
were  devoted  to  their  efforts  to  show  that  their 
respective  tickets  were  the  only  simon  pure, 
original  Jacobs,  Republican  nominations,  while 
Democrats  smiled  at  the  way  in  which  the  Re- 
publicans were  making  things  easj*  for  them. 

On  October  4,  Mr.  Fessler,  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  Chairman  Ashley,  made  an  unequivocal 
pledge  regarding  the  disposition  of  the  interest 
on  state  funds,  and  received  the  unqualified  en- 
dorsement of  the  Republican. 

On  October  5,  Chairman  Ashle}T  rendered  his 
decision  on  the  Arapahoe  question,  recognizing 
the  "Smashers"  ticket,  and  announcing  that  be- 
sides his  own  convictions  on  the  situation,  he 
had  received  letters  from  every  part  of  the  state 
urging  him  to  adopt  this  course  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  party. 

While  the  Republican  professed  to  support 
Fessler,  the  opposition  to  him  which  had  been 
started  by  that  paper  still  continued,  and  it  was 


"SMASHERS"   TICKET   ENDORSED  151 

evident  several  days  before  the  election  that  he 
would  be  defeated. 

Meanwhile  the  Republican,  revelling-  in  its  un- 
accustomed position  as  the  party  dictator,  turned 
its  attention  to  Senator  Teller,  and  in  a  number 
of  articles  demanded  that  he  should  take  sides 
in  the  Arapahoe  count}^  controversy,  insisted 
that  he  should  "speak  out,"  and,  as  he  failed  to 
respond  with  sufficient  alacrity,  published  a  car- 
toon in  which  he  was  represented  as  being-  muz- 
zled by  Senator  Wolcott.  On  October  21,  Mr.  Tel- 
in  an  interview  published  in  the  Republican,  did 
speak  out,  endorsing-  the  "Smashers"  ticket,  and 
the  last  hope  of  the  "Gang"  leaders  vanished. 

While  this  contest  was  disgraceful  on  both 
sides,  conducted  with  an  indecent  disregard  of 
the  best  interests  of  the  party,  and  was  caused 
solely  by  selfish  desire  for  leadership,  it  is  be- 
3^ond  question  that  the  advantage  of  position  was 
with  the  "Smashers."  Whatever  of  merit  was 
originally  with  the  "Gang"  side  was  thrown 
away  by  indecision  and  bad  generalship.  The 
"  Smashers  "  knew  what  they  wanted,  knew  how 
to  get  it,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  take  it  when  the 
opportunit}r  offered.  It  is  no  less  difficult  today 
than  it  was  at  the  time  to  decide  which  of  the 
two  factions  most  nearly,  represented  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  no  importance, 
for  the  burning  fact  remains  that  on  account  of 
this  foolish  and  unnecessary  contest  between 
factions  headed  by  leaders  who  did  not  hesitate 
to  sacrifice  the  party  to  their  ambitions,  three 
state  officers  and  six  members  of  the  legislature 


152  A  MIXED 


suffered  defeat,  while  the  disorganization  that 
resulted  aided  materially  in  rendering  possible 
the  Populist  cyclone  which  struck  the  state  two 
years  later. 

The  result  was  what  might  have  been  expect- 
ed. In  Arapahoe  county  the  Republicans  elected 
one  senator  and  three  representatives,  and  the 
Democrats  one  senator  and  five  representatives, 
Governor  Routt  was  elected  by  0408  plurality,  and 
Mr.  Townsend  by  8331  plurality.  Dick,  Jones  and 
Fessler  were  defeated,  while  in  the  assembly  the 
•")!  majority  of  two  years  before  was  reduced  to 
121,  there  being-  10  Republicans  and  10  Democrats 
in  the  senate,  and  32  Republicans  and  17  Demo- 
crats in  the  house. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  a  caucus  of 
the  Republican  members  of  the  house  was  held 
in  which  all  was  apparently  harmonious,  and 
James  W.  Hanna  was  selected  as  the  part}-  candi- 
date for  speaker.  He  was  elected  by  a  full  party 
vote,  and  took  his  seat  with  the  full  consent  of  all 
parties  concerned.  When  he  attempted  to  an- 
nounce his  committees,  however,  the  legitimate 
fruits  of  the  factional  quarrel  in  Arapahoe  coun- 
ty were  made  manifest. 

James  H,  Brown  of  Arapahoe  count}',  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  leaders  of  the  "Smash- 
ers." He  had  been  elected  by  a  narrow  majority, 
and  took  his  seat  as  a  Republican,  participating 
in  the  caucus  and  subsequent  proceedings. 
When  the  speaker  had  prepared  his  list  of  com- 
mittees, however,  Mr.  Brown  suddenly  discovered 
that  the  same  "Gang"  which  he  had  assisted  in 


LEGIvSLATlYK    REVOLUTION  153 

smashing'  at  the  polls  in  Arapahoe  count}',  had 
reared  its  horrid  front  in  the  halls  of  the  state 
legislature,  and  that  through  corruption  and 
fraud  it  promised  to  secure  the  standing  com- 
mittees. His  first  move'  was  to  object  to  the 
adoption  of  the  rules  of  the  last  house  (the  usual 
custom)  except  as  a  temporary  measure.  On  the 
evening  of  Januar3r  9,  1891,  Speaker  Hanna  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the  list  of  standing  committees, 
and  was  immediately  interrupted  by  Mr.  Brown. 
The  speaker  refused  to  recognize  him,  and  com- 
pleted the  reading  of  the  list.  At  its  conclusion 
a  motion  to  adjourn  was  made  and  declared  car- 
ried amid  the  vigorous  protests  of  Mr.  Brown's 
followers.  As  the  speaker  left  the  chair  the  elec- 
tion of  another  speaker  was  called  for  bj-  Mr. 
Brown,  and  on  a  call  of  the  roll  it  was  found  that 
those  who  sustained  Mr.  Brown  consisted  of  13 
Republicans  and  14  Democrats — a  majority  of 
the  house.  Before  the  necessary  arrangements 
had  been  made  for  holding  a  session  and  declar- 
ing the  office  of  speaker  vacant,  Speaker  Hanna, 
accompanied  by  the  sergeant-at-arms  and  a  dep- 
uty, entered  the  hall  and  directed  the  officers  to 
extinguish  the  lights.  When  this  was  attempted 
a  rush  was  made  to  prevent  it,  and  blows  were 
struck,  but  the  members  of  the  regularly  organ- 
ized house  rallied  to  the  support  of  their  officers 
and  gradually  the  lights  were  extinguished. 
Senator  McKinley  was  present,  and  invited  the 
revolutionists  to  occup}r  the  senate  chamber. 
But  this  move  had  been  anticipated,  and  when 
}T  reached  the  senate  chamber  President  Car- 


154:  REVOLUTIONISTS    ORGANIZE 

penter  was  present,  and  refused  them  admission. 
Here  another  altercation  and  collision  occurred, 
hut  it  was  finally  concluded  that  the  veto  of  Pres- 
ident Carpenter  was  of  more  virtue  than  the  invi- 
tation of  Senator  McKinle3r,  and  the  party  ad- 
journed to  the  Albany.  The  Republican  revolu- 
tionists were  Brown  of  Arapahoe,  Brown  of  Jeff- 
erson, White,  Secor,  Chapman,  Bell,  Sanborn, 
Alden,  Wilmot,  Richardson,  Shaw,  Carmichael 
and  Flick  inger. 

During1  the  next  few  da}-s  the  struggle  was 
maintained  with  varying-  fortunes.  The  revolu- 
tionists took  the  ground  that  the  speaker  had  no 
right  to  appoint  the  committees  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  house,  and  the  salient  point  of  the 
contest  was  the  approval  of  the  minutes  of  the 
session  of  January  0,  the  revolutionists  contend- 
ing for  the  expurgation  of  the  record  giving-  the 
speaker's  announcement  of  his  committees,  and 
the  adjournment  on  the  9th. 

The  contest  on  the  14th  was  of  the  most  deter- 
mined character,  consisting  of  the  most  persist- 
ent efforts  on  the  part  of  the  revolutionary  faction 
to  secure  a  vote  on  Mr.  Brown's  motion  to  correct 
the  record,  met  by  dilatory  motions  and  filibus- 
tering on  the  other  side.  Gradually  the  contest 
narrowed  down  however,  until  both  sides  were 
wear}-  of  the  controversy,  and  it  was  somewhat 
of  a  relief  when  a  new  turn  was  given  to  the 
strug-gle  b}r  Mr.  O'Mahoney,  who  had  been  chosen 
speaker  pro  tern,  by  the  revolutionists.  He  called 
his  party  to  order,  and  called  for  nominations  for 
speaker.  Jesse  White  of  Custer  count}^  was 


TWO   HOUSES  IN   SESSION  i.Y> 

declared  elected,  and  thenceforth  the  question 
at  issue  was  the  legality  of  the  branches  into 
which  the  house  had  been  divided.  Each  house 
held  daily  sessions,  but  while  the  original  house 
lacking-  a  quorum,  could  do  nothing  but  adjourn 
from  da}7  to  da}',  the  revolutionary  bod}'  varied 
the  monotony  of  the  proceedings  by  the  intro- 
duction of  bills  and  the  discussion  of  public 
measures. 

Each  of  the  houses  surrounded  itself  with 
guards,  the  original  body  securing  the  aid  of  the 
police,  while  the  revolutionists  procured  the  ser- 
vices of  deputy  sheriffs  and  a  mob  of  special  of- 
ficers whose  qualifications  were  of  a  muscular 
rather  than  a  legal  character.  Neither  side  was 
particular  as  to  the  moral  character  of  the  men 
employed,  and  to  this  fact  is  due  the  murder  of 
Captain  Hawley  by  Harley  McCoy,  both  men  be- 
ing engaged  in  the  defense  of  the  contending 
factions.  The  militia  had  been  called  for  by 
some  who  anticipated  a  riot,  and  though  the 
troops  did  not  actually  put  in  an  appearance,  they 
were  under  arms,  and  were  held  at  the  armory  in 
readiness  for  anything  that  might  occur. 

On  January  16  the  revolutionists  issued  a 
manifesto  to  the  people  of  the  state,  reciting  the 
incidents  of  the  revolt  and  the  alleged  causes 
leading  thereto,  claiming  to  be  the  legally  or- 
ganized house,  and  appealing  to  the  people  for 
support.  Though  they  had  a  majority  of  the 
members  public  sentiment  was  decidedly  against 
their  methods.  Mr.  Brown  was  the  acknowledged 
leader  of  the  revolt,  and  in  defending  his  posi- 


156  SENATOR   TELLER    RE-ELECTED 

tion  claimed  that  he  had  been  elected  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  people  who  desired  an  immedi- 
ate re-form  of  the  abuses  and  corruption  that  had 
previously  existed,  and  that  his  present  contest 
was  along-  the  same  lines  and  ag-ainst  the  corrup- 
tion that  had  characterized  the  election  of  Speak- 
er Hanna  and  the  appointment  of  the  committees. 
Inasmuch  as  he  had  participated  in  the  election 
of  the  speaker,  however,  and  had  onl3r  objected 
to  the  appointment  of  the  committees,  to  the  gen- 
eral  public  the  action  of  the  revolutionists 
seemed  to  be  due  solely  to  disappointment  in  not 
receiving  the  committee  appointments  the3r  had 
expected,  and  the  Republican  sarcastically  ob- 
served that  Mr.  Brown  was  not  much  of  a 
"Smasher''  after  all,  as  the  previous  }rear,  during 
the  Stuart  libel  suit  against  that  paper,  he  had 
been  one  of  the  principal  upholders  of  the 
"Gang." 

During  the  time  when  both  houses  were  in  ses- 
sion the  highest  number  present  at  any  session 
of  the  regular  house  was  22,  and  as  the  revolu- 
tionists frequently  lacked  a  quorum  it  was  hoped 
that  they  would  be  eventually  worn  out.  Mean- 
time, Governor  Routt,  undetermined  as  to  the 
legality  of  either  body  claiming-  recognition 
had  requested  an  opinion  from  the  supreme 
court,  submitting  the  allegations  of  each  side. 

As  the  date  fixed  for  taking  a  ballot  for  United 
States  senator  drew  near,  considerable  anxiet}r 
was  felt  regarding  the  possible  effect  of  the  im- 
broglio upon  the  senatorship.  On  January  19? 
however;  a  Republican  caucus  was  held,  and  Mr 


REVOLUTIONISTS    WIN  157 

Teller  was  nominated.  On  the  20th  the  houses 
ballotted  separately,  Mr.  Teller  receiving  14  votes 
in  the  senate  (two  senators  being  absent),  19  in 
the  regular  house  and  13  in  the  revolutionary 
house.  On  the  21st  the  senate  met  the  house  in 
joint  session,  and  Mr.  Teller  received  47  votes  to 
27  for  Judge  Yea  man. 

January  24  the  supreme  court  rendered  its  de- 
cision on  the  legislative  situation,  taking  the 
ground  that  as  the  speaker  was  not  a  state  officer, 
he  could  be  at  any  time  removed  by  a  majority 
vote  of  the  members  of  the  house.  This  decision, 
sustaining  the  position  of  Mr.  Brown  and  his  fol- 
lowers, while  sharpty  criticised  by  many  good 
lawyers,  was  gracefully  acquiesced  in  by  the 
original  house,  and  on  the  25th  Mr.  Hanna  yield- 
ed up  the  gavel  to  Mr.  White,  the  speaker  elected 
by  the  revolutionists. 

Without  touching  upon  the  legal  rights  of 
the  revolutionists,  their  action  is  open  to  the 
most  severe  criticism.  The  house  was  regularly 
organized  in  accordance  with  law,  and  upon  an  al- 
leged condition  of  affairs,  in  proof  of  which  noth- 
ing was  brought  forward  except  further  allega- 
tions, the  revolutionists  took  a  stand,  and  estab- 
lished a  dangerous  precedent.  They  may  have 
been  honest  in  making  their  claims,  but  neither 
the  circumstances  alleged,  nor  the  results  at- 
tained were  of  sufficient  importance  to  justify 
the  revolution  and  its  attendant  expense  and 
bloodshed.  Having  an  undoubted  majority  of 
the  house,  if  it  was  true,  as  asserted  by  them, 
that  the  election  of  Speaker  Hanna  and  his  com- 


158  WHY   DID  THEY    DO  IT? 

mittee  appointments  were  due  to  corrupt  in* 
fluences,  they  were  in  the  best  possible  position 
to  promptly  expose  and  defeat  any  corrupt  mea- 
sure. That  they  were  not  satisfied  with  this  pow- 
er, but  hastil}^  and  with  violence  overturned  the 
established  customs  of  the  house,  upon  the  mere 
assertion  of  a  suspicion  of  corruption,  affords 
the  strongest  grounds  for  the  opinion  expressed 
by  manj^,  that  the  motives  of  the  leaders,  at  least, 
were  of  an  entirelj'  different  character  from  those 
alleged — an  opinion  that  the  decision  of  the  su- 
preme court  was  entirely  insufficient  to  change. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1890. 

CONGRESS. 
52d  Congress— Hosea  Townsend...43,118    T.  J.  O'Donnell 84,736 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— John  L.  Routt 41,827    Caldwell  Yeaman 35,359 

Lt-Gov.    —  W.  W.  Story 41,356    PI att  Rogers 36,248 

Secy  St'e-E.  J.  Eaton 42,577    Wm.  Forman ........  35,084 

Treas.       —John  H.  Fessler 37,576    J .  N .  Carlile 34,494 

Auditor  —  J.  M.  Henderson 41,503    W.  F.  Skelton 34,935 

Atty  Gen— S.  W.  Jones 37,675    J.  H.  Maupin 38,661 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

—Fred.  Dick 36,560    N.  B.  Coy 40,133 

Regents  of  the  University 

— O.  J.  Pfeiff  er 42,608    H.  O.  Montague, 34,914 

— W.  H.  Cochran 42,242    C.  M.  Ford 35,257 

JUDICIARY. 
District  Judges 
2d  Dist,  — T.  B.  Stuart* 7,211    A.  J.  Rising 9291 

—David  B.  Graham* ....  10,605    Wilbur  F.  Stone 4994 

District  Attorneys 

9th  Dist.— Geo.  D.  Johnstonf 2645    E.  C.  Stimson 2531 

E1GHTTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

8ENATE. 

President  pro  tern.  M.  B.  Carpenter.    Secretary— J.  S.  Lawrence. 
1st  Dist.- James  W.  McCreery      7th  Dist.— R.  C.  Wells 


2d     " 

—A.  F.  Howes 

8th     " 

—  A.  A.  McGovney 

3d     " 

-R.  H.  Whitely,  Jr. 

9th     " 

—  Jas.  F.  Gardner 

4th    " 

—  H.  S.  Balsinger 

10th   " 

—  D.  C.  Bailey 

5th    " 

—  R.  B.  Weiser 

llth   " 

—John  Y.  Oliver 

6th    " 

—  F.  T.  Cochrane 

—A.  T.  Gunnell 

—  M.  B.  Carpenter 

—  John  King 

—  Amos  Steck 

12th    " 

—  Wm.  Gelder 

—A.  B.  McKinley 

13th  " 

-F.  W,  Smith 

*Additional  judges  for  the  Second  Judicial  District  provided 
for  by  the  Seventh  General  Assembly.  Election  held  at  the  gener- 
al election  in  1889. 

fTo  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  J.  E.  Rockwell. 


160 


EIGHTH  GEXERAt   ASSEMBLY1 


14th 
lath 
16th 
17th 


— M.  S.  Bailey 
— J.  A.  Israel 
—Fred  Betts 
—A.  Walters 


HOUSE  OF   EEPR 

Speaker — Jesse  White. 

Arapahoe     —A.  P,  Rittenhouse 
— C.  M,  Campbell 
— D,  W.  Mullin  . 
— WT.  Van  der  Weyden 
— Jas.  PL  Brown 
— D.  F.  Carmichael 
—Ralph  Voorhees 
—A.  E.  Bromley 

rVrchuleta  and  Conejos 

—Nathan  Eldodt 

Bent,  Kiowa,  Otero  and  Prowers 
— Chas.  EL  Allen 

Boulder        —Tim  O'Connor 
-F.  P.  Secor 
— C. W.  Sanborn 

Chaffee        —A.  R.  Kennedy 

Clear  Creek— J.  F.  Topping 
-R,  T.  Shaw 

Costilla        — S.  W.  Hathaway 

Custer          —Jesse  White 

—Edwin  Mitchell 

Douglas       — E.  M.  Ammons 

Elbert,  Cheyenne  Kit  Carson  and 
Lincoln 

— L.  R.  Tucker 

El  Paso        — F.  F.  Costello 
— J.  E.  Reynolds 

Fremont      — T.  Thornton 

Gilpin  — W.  H.  Richards 

— M.  Leahy 

Grand  & 

Routt  — H.  H,  Eddy 


18th  •  — Casimero  Barela 

19th  "  — B.  L.  Smith 

20th  "  — Wm.  H.  Adams 

21st  "  -L.  N,  White 

lESENTATIVES. 

Clerk-W.  H.  Edmunds. 
Hinsdale  —  G.  H.  Zacharias 
Huerfano— C.  B,  Bowman 
Jefferson  — H.  R.  Brown 

—  D.  P.  W'ilmott 
Lake         — R.  Eaton 

—John  X owl  and 

— G.  W.  Dollis 

— T.  F.  O'Mahoney 
La  Plata  and  Montezuma 

— J.  W.  Hanna 
Larimer    — C.  J<  Chapman 
Las  Animas  and  Baca 

— J.  J.  Hendricks 

— R.  L.  Wootton 
Logan,  Morgan,   Sedgwick, 
Phillips,  Washington,  Yuma 
and  Weld 

-H.  W.  Twombly 
Park          — H.  Alden 
Pitkin,  Mesa,  Montrose,   Delta 
and  Gunnison 

— F.  M.  Coombs 
Pueblo      — J.  R.  Flickinger 

-Geo.  R.  Bell 
Rio  Blanco,  Eagle,  Garfield 
and  Summit 

— O.  M.  Warner 
Rio  Grande— R,  P.  Wallace 
Saguache   — L.  B.  Schwanbeck 
San  Juan    — Wm.  Sullivan 
San  Miguel,  Dolores  and  Ouray 

—A.  P,  Adams 


THK  effects  of  the  several  political  cata- 
Io92  clysms  that  characterized  the  campaign 

of  1890,  and  the  subsequent  scenes  of 
violence  in  the  legislature  were  much  more  seri- 
ous and  far-reaching  than  was  anticipated  by 
the  people  by  whom  they  were  provoked.  It  was 
openly  charged  by  the  Republican  that  the  same 
parties  that  were  responsible  for  the  alleged  mis- 
doings of  the  seventh  general  assembly,  for  the 
debauching  of  the  primaries,  and  for  the  mis- 
government  of  Denver,  aimed  to  secure  absolute 
control  of  the  political  machine^  of  the  city,  of 
the  county,  and  of  the  state.  Consequently 
when  the  Republican  city  convention  of  the 
spring  of  1891,  with  few  exceptions,  renominated 
the  officers  elected  two  }rears  before,  that  paper 
at  once  and  vigorously  denounced  the  ticket 
placed  in  the  field,  alleging  that  glaring  frauds 
had  been  committed;  that  saloon  and  other  li- 
censes had  been  granted,  the  mone}^  received 
from  which  had  never  found  its  way  to  the  city 
treasury;  that  dog  tax  had  been  collected  and 
unaccounted  for,  and  that  duplicate  dog  tags 
had  been  issued  to  cover  this  branch  of  the  sys- 
tem of  theft  inaugurated  by  the  city  administra- 
tion. It  was  charged  that  officers  of  the  city  had 
engaged  in  business  for  the  sole  purpose  of  fur- 
nishing supplies  at  exorbitant  figures,  and  that 
the  entire  administration  of  Mayor  Londoner 


162  RETROSPECTIVE 

bad  been  organized  for  the  purpose  of  robbery, 
which  the  mayor  was  powerless  to  prevent. 
Whatever  of  robber}^  there  may  have  been  to  jus- 
tif}^  these  charges,  there  was  sufficient  ground 
for  suspicion  to  arouse  a  strong-  sentiment 
among  the  taxpayers,  and  spurred  by  the  Republi- 
can, which  ignored  the  causes  which  had  led  to 
the  ascendanc}r  in  local  politics  of.  a  class  of  men 
capable  of  perpetrating  these  frauds,  the  people 
took  action. 

The  Republican  city  convention  met  on  March 
U'J.  1891,  and  nominated  W.  H.  Milburn  for  mayor, 
A.  B.  Place  for  city  treasurer,  Jos.  Vick  Roy  for 
city  clerk,  F.  A.  Williams  for  cit}^  attorney,  J.  A. 
Mclntyre  for  city  engineer,  and  George  Raymond 
for  city  auditor. 

On  the  following  day  the  Democrats  nominat- 
ed Platt  Rogers  for  Mayor,  James  F.Adams  for 
city  treasurer,  William  Ferguson  for  clerk,  G.  A. 
Corbin  for  city  attorney,  John  B.  Hunter  for  city 
engineer,  and  J.  T.  Smith  for  auditor. 

Prior  to  these  nominations,  on  March  1,  a 
mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Denver  was  held 
in  the  interest  of  municipal  reform,  and  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  urging  the  passage  by  the 
legislature  of  a  metropolitan  police  bill,  request- 
ing the  governor  to  appoint  as  police  commis- 
sioners none  but  men  of  the  highest  character 
and  sterling  integrity,  and  appointing  a  commit- 
tee of  fifteen  to  present  the  resolutions  to  the  leg- 
islature and  governor,  and  to  devise  such  other 
measures  for  state  arid  municipal  reform  as 
might  be  deemed  expedient. 


RETROSPECTIVE  163 

On  March  25  this,  committee  met,  and  having 
agreed  that  neither  of  the  tickets  presented  was 
a  fair  expression  of  the  wishes  of  the  people,  de- 
cided that  it  came  within  their  province  to  select 
a  ticket  which  would  more  nearly  satisf}^  the  de- 
sire for  clean  government.  According^  they 
endorsed  Platt  Rogers  for  Ma}ror,  James  F.  Ad- 
ams for  treasurer,  and  J.  B.  Hunter  for  engineer, 
from  the  Democratic,  Jos.  Vick  Roy  for  clerk,  and 
F.  A.  Williams  for  attorney,  from  the  Republican 
ticket, and  substituted  as  the  candidate  for  audit- 
or, V.  P.  Hastings  in  preference  to  either  Smith 
or  Raymond. 

The  Citizens' ticket  was  elected  with  the  excep- 
tion of  auditor,  for  which  office  Mr.  Smith  was 
the  successful  candidate,  by  pluralities  averag- 
ing more  than  5000.  M.  D.  Van  Horn  was  the  on- 
ly supervisor  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
and  the  board  of  aldermen  stood  six  Democrats 
to  three  Republicans.  While  the  vote  showed 
the  people  of  Denver  to  have  been  overwhelm- 
ingly in  favor  of  the  Citizens'  ticket,  the  result 
with  seven  thousand  voters  supporting  the 
straight  Republican  ticket,  was  the  injection  of 
another  element  of  discord  into  the  Republican 
councils  of  the  county,  which  was  reflected  upon 
the  following  state  campaign,  and  the  creation 
of  dissensions  at  a  time  when  it  was  most  impor- 
tant that  the  most  absolute  harmony  should  pre- 
vail. 

Subsequent  events  absolutely  justified  the  ac- 
tion of  the  citizens'  committee,  and  therefore  the 
onus  of  a  portion,  at  least,  of  the  disorganization 


164  SILVER     COMES    UP 

which  followed  must  rest  upon  the  men  who  had 
so  administered  the  affairs  of  the  city  of  Denver 
as  to  disgust  a  very  large  number  of  stanch  Re- 
publicans, and  dispose  them  to  welcome  the  ad- 
vent of  a  third  part}7,  which  might  do  better,  but 
could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to  do  worse. 

It  can  readil}^  be  imagined  that  on  the  open- 
ing of  the  campaign  of  1892  there  was  no  little 
bitterness  among  the  Republicans  of  the  strong- 
est Republican  county  in  the  state.  But  what- 
ever 11133'  have  been  this  feeling  it  was  kept  un- 
der tolerable  control,  as  it  was  realized  that  an 
element  of  danger  to  Republican  supremacy  in 
the  state  was  beginning  to  make  itself  felt  in  the 
organization  of  clubs  of  various  kinds,  both  par- 
tisan and  non-partisan,  but  all  united  in  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  the  recognition  of  silver  by  op- 
erating through  political  channels.  On  the  20th 
of  Ma}r,  1891,  the  Trans-Mississippi  Congress  con- 
vened in  Denver,  and  after  a  brilliant  debate  on 
the  financial  question  as  affecting  silver,  de- 
clared in  favor  of  the  coinage  of  the  American 
product  I)}7  a  vote  of  58  to  55.  Silver  had  gradu- 
ally declined,  and  ever}-  effort  to  secure  favorable 
legislation  had  failed,  and  now  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  the  mines  of  the  state  had  been  compelled 
to  suspend  operations,  and  as  a  result  the  num- 
ber of  men  out  of  employment  had  greatly  in- 
creased. Naturally  the  cause  of  this  continued 
and  increasing  depression  was  looked  for  and 
was  not  far  to  seek.  The  Democratic  party  had 
a  majority  in  Congress,  but  had  refused  to  take 
action  looking  to  the  restoration  of  silver,  and 


THE  NATIONAL  CONVENTIONS  165 

gradually  the  attention  of  the  sufferers  was  di- 
rected to  the  necessity  of  political  action  on  the 
subject,  through  the  national  conventions. 
When  the  calls  for  the  conventions  of  the  two 
great  parties  were  made  the  feeling  on  the  sub- 
ject had  reached  a  point  that  made  it  necessary 
for  both  parties  to  do  their  utmost  to  secure  fa- 
vorable action  by  the  conventions. 

The  State  Silver  League  had  sent  representa- 
tives to  both  conventions,  and  these  gentlemen 
appealed  to  the  Republicans  to  listen  to  the  de- 
mands of  the  west.  Mr.  Teller,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  platform  committee,  worked  hard  to 
secure  recognition  for  silver,  but  the  only  result 
was  a  plank  which  was  far  from  satisfying  the 
people  of  this  state,  as,  general  in  its  terms,  it 
pledged  the  part}^  to  nothing  definite,  and  put 
the  Republican  pai?ty  of  Colorado  on  the  defen- 
sive from  the  very  outset  of  the  campaign.  On 
the  10th  of  June,  1892,  Mr.  Harrison  was  renomi- 
nated.  A  strong  feeling  against  Mr.  Harrison 
existed  in  this  state,  on  account  of  the  unfavora- 
ble action  of  his  administration  with  relation  to 
silver,  and  Blaine  was  the  favorite  for  the  nomi- 
nation, and  his  defeat,  coupled  with  the  unsatis- 
factory silver  plank,  caused  a  feeling  of  disap- 
pointment akin  to  revolt. 

On  June  21  the  Democratic  convention  met  in 
Chicago.  The  Colorado  delegation  was  loud  in 
its  opposition,  to  Cleveland  as  the  result  showed, 
to  no  purpose.  The  Greystone  club  had  agreed 
to  attend  in  a  body,  but  showed  up  in  Chicago 
with  fewer  than  thirty  delegates,  whose  disgust 


166  A  BLACK  EYE  FOR   SILVER 

when  Senator  McKinle3'  ardentl}^  espoused  the 
cause  of  Mr.  Cleveland,  was  openl}-  expressed- 
This  action  of  Senator  McKinley  had  the  effect  of 
creating  the  impression  among  eastern  delegates 
that  the  class  of  Colorado  Democrats  of  whom 
the  senator  was  a  representative  would  not  be 
averse  to  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Cleveland,  while 
the  contrast  between  the  gentlemanl3r,  dignified 
attitude  of  McKinley,  and  the  blatant,  assertive 
insolence  of  so  man}-  of  the  Coloradans  present 
was  not  calculated  to  create  friends  for  the  silver 
cause.  When  to  this  was  added  the  threats  of 
bolting  Cleveland  in  which  several  indulged  it 
may  be  concluded  that  Colorado's  mission  to  Chi- 
cago was  not  a  shining  success  in  any  particular. 
Mr.  Patterson  was  a  member  of  the  platform 
committee,  and  made  an  earnest  plea  fora  strong- 
silver  resolution  without  effect,  the  silver  plank 
being  full}'  as  unsatisfactory  as  that  adopted  at 
Minneapolis,  the  only  positive  declaration  being 
in  favor  of  the  repeal  of  the  purchasing  clause 
of  the  act  of  1890.  Mr.  Patterson  presented  a  mi- 
norit}r  report,  and  while  urging  its  adoption  was 
listened  to  with  considerable  impatience  by  the 
convention^  which  rejected  his  report. 

The  nomination  of  Mr.  Cleveland  on  June  22, 
was  followed  on  the  23d  by  the  bolt  of  the  Den- 
ver News,  which  declined  to  support  the  nominee. 

The  national  convention  of  the  People's  party 
met  at  Omaha  on  July  2,  and  adopted  a  straight 
silver  plank,  nominating  Weaver  of  Iowa  for 
president. 

It  was  painful^  evident  to  the  Republicans  of 


POLITICAL  CHAOS  IN   COLORADO  167 

Colorado  that  the  condition  of  affairs  presented 
by  the  several  national  conventions,  rendered  the 
result  in  this  state  extremely  doubtful.  A  number 
of  prominent  Republicans  immediately  declared 
themselves  as  opposed  to  Mr.  Harrison.  The  De- 
mocracy were  equally  outspoken,  while  the  State 
Silver  League  industriously  sought  to  secure 
pledges  for  the  election  of  presidential  electors 
who  would  decline  to  vote  for  any  candidate  for 
president  except  one  who  would  sign  a  free  coin- 
age bill,  and  to  increase*  the  membership  of  the 
league  with  a  view  of  securing  the  balance  of 
power.  The  Denver  News  and  its  editor,  Mr.  Pat- 
terson, earnestly  sought  to  secure  the  endorse- 
ment of  the  People's  part}7  electors,  and  the  nom- 
ination of  a  straight  Democratic  state  ticket,  the 
evident  purpose  being  to  maintain  the  Demo- 
cratic state  organization,  while  rebuking  the  na- 
tional organization  by  throwing  the  electoral 
vote  of  the  state  to  the  Omaha  nominees.  But  the 
News  had  raised  a  storm  which  it  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  lay.  The  people,  who  felt  outraged  by 
the  action  of  their  conventions,  seemed  disposed 
to  no  half  measures,  and  refused  to  be  controlled. 
The  Democratic  organization,  while  it  saw  its 
strength  gradually  dwindling,  maintained  a  firm 
position,  refusing  to  recognize  the  News  as  a  par- 
ty organ,  and  standing  squarely  upon  the  Chica- 
go platform  and  for  the  party  nominees.  It  was 
evident  therefore,  that  unless  the  delegates  to  the 
state  convention  could  be  secured  in  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Patterson's  policy,  a  permanent  split  in 
the  party  would  result,  and  both  factions  labored 


168  POPULIST   MOVEMENTS 

earnestly  to  maintain  their  respective 
each  insisting-  that  it   clone  represented  the  De- 
mocracy of  the  state. 

The  People's  party  was  the  most  aggressive. 
With  everything  to  gain  and  nothing  to  lose,  that 
part}^  few  in  numbers  at  first,  but  loud  and  con- 
stant in  singing  the  praises  of  the  Omaha  plat- 
form, took  advantage  of  every  move  in  the  ranks 
of  its  opponents,  and  drew  to  itself  all  of  the  dis- 
satisfied elements  of  both  parties.  The  incon- 
gruities of  the  Omaha  platform  were  plainly 
seen,  but  incongruities  counted  for  but  little  with 
the  miscellaneous  lot  which  rallied  about  the 
part}r  standard,  scenting  possible  spoils,  which 
they  could  not  hope  to  secure  from  either  of  the 
old  parties.  The  Populists  also  had  much  to 
hope  for  from  the  so-called  silver  party,  which 
had  taken  the  ground  that  the  only  way  to  secure 
the  ultimate  recognition  of  silver  as  a  money 
metal  was  to  defeat  the  old  parties,  to  which  vain 
appeals  had  been  made,  and  to  accomplish  thai 
purpose  disregarded  all  enunciations  of  princi- 
ple except  the  single  silver  plank  of  the  Omaha 
platform,  inserted  for  the  sole  purpose  of  catch- 
ing the  votes  of  the  western  states. 

This  being  the  situation,  the  State  Silver 
League  was  called  to  meet  in  Denver  on  July  26, 
and  the  Populists  called  their  covention  for  the 
following  day. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Silver  convention  no  ac- 
tion was  taken  other  than  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  to  confer  with  the  People's  party  con- 
vention, with  the  view  of  nominating  an  electo- 


POPULIST  CONVENTION  169 

ral  and  state  ticket  which  should  be  satisfactoi\y 
to  both  conventions. 

The  People's  party  convention  met  on  the  27th 
and  after  organizing-  appointed  a  committee  to 
confer  with  a  similar  committee  on  the  part  of 
the  silver  league  convention  regarding  the  nom- 
inations. Pending  the  report  of  this  committee 
an  earnest  effort  was  made  b}^  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Patterson  to  secure  an  adjournment  till  the  fol 
lowing  day,  or  at  least  to  prevent  any  definite  ac- 
tion in  the  direction  of  nominating  a  state  ticket. 
The  object  of  this  effort  was  so  plainly  with 
the  purpose  in  view  of  making  the  convention 
the  instrument  for  carrying  out  Mr.  Patterson's 
plans  that  it  failed.  The  conference  committee 
was  therefore  permitted  to  complete  its  work, 
and  presented  a  list  of  names  that  had  been 
agreed  upon  for  each  office,  from  which  list  the 
nominees  were  to  be  selected.  The  silver  conven- 
tion, after  waiting  some  time  for  the  report  of  the 
conference  committee,  adjourned  to  the  follow- 
ing day. 

On  the  28th  both  conventions  met,  and  the 
Populists  at  once  proceeded  to  nominate  a  full 
state  ticket,  with  Davis  H.  Waite  as  the  guberna- 
torial nominee.  The  silver  convention  also  met, 
but,  as  a  large  majority  of  the  delegates  were  al- 
so delegates  to  the  Populist  convention,  and  were 
engaged  in  nominating  a  ticket,  it  adjourned  to 
the  next  day. 

On  the  29th  the  Silver  convention,  reinforced 
by  the  Populist  delegates,  took  up  the  report  of 
the  conference  committee.  This  was  Mr.  Patter- 


170  MR.  PATTERvSON   KNOCKED  OUT 

son's  last  opportunit}^  to  prevent  the  nomination 
of  a  state  ticket,  and  visiting-  the  convention  he 
made  an  earnest  appeal  to  the  delegates  to  ad- 
journ without  nominating-  candidates.  A  scene 
of  indescribable  confusion  ensued.  FinalHT,  after 
a  rambling*  debate,  divided  between  denuncia- 
tions of  Mr.  Patterson,  criticisms  of  the  Omaha 
platform,  eulogies  upon  that  document,  and  en- 
dorsements of  the  candidates  named  by  the  Pop- 
ulist convention,  a  motion  was  made  to  endorse 
the  Populist  electors.  This  was  prompt^  voted 
down  and  Mr.  Patterson  left  the  hall.  A  motion 
immediately  followed  to  endorse  the  entire  Pop- 
ulist ticket,  which  was  carried,  and  a  movement 
which  opened  like  a  farce,  but  proved  to  be  the 
commencement  of  a  very  serious  political  trage- 
dy, was  fairly  launched  upon  the  troubled  sea  of 
politics. 

While  Mr.  Patterson  was  endeavoring  to  guide 
both  the  Silver  and  Populist  conventions,  anoth- 
er contest,  of  much  greater  political  importance 
to  him  than  the  endorsement  of  a  new  part3r,  was 
on  his  hands.  The  straight,  democracy,  which 
prided  itself  on  voting  the  ticket  without  a 
scratch,  and  on  its  taste  for  "  crow,"  when  regu- 
larly served  upon  the  parly  table,  was  determined 
to  punish  him  for  his  bolt.  The  opportunity  had 
long  been  awaited  by  a  large  number  of  leading 
Democrats  who  had  winced  under  the  domina- 
tion of  Mr.  Patterson,  whom  they  had  themselves 
assisted  in  advancing  to  his  position  of  leader- 
ship, only  to  see  him  overshadow  themselves,  and 
that  opportunity  had  come  at  last.  It  had  been 


DEMOCRATIC   DISSENSIONS  171 

Mr.  Patterson's  plan  to  prevent  if  possible  the 
nomination  of  a  state  ticket  by  the  new  party, 
and  then,  upon  the  meeting-  of  the  Democratic 
convention,  to  secure  a  fusion  with  the  Populists, 
thereby  retaining-  the  regular  Democratic  organ- 
ization, and  at  the  same  time  maintaining  his 
full  fellowship  with  his  party.  In  accordance 
with  this  plan  he  proposed  to  call  the  Democrat- 
ic convention  at  an  early  date,  and  the  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  committee  called  that  body 
together  on  July  28.  When  the  committee  met, 
Mr.  Patterson's  plans,  which  subsequent  events* 
proved  to  have  been  wise,  had  been  partially  de- 
eated  by  the  nomination  of  a  Populist  ticket,  but 
there  was  still  hope  of  a  fusion  of  the  Democrats 
and  the  Silver  League.  The  committee  met  at  3 
p.  m.,  and  from  that  hour  until  nearly  midnight 
held  one  of  the  most  exciting  sessions  in  the  his- 
tor}^  of  the  Colorado  Democracy.  The  struggle 
from  start  to  finish  was,  on  one  side,  to  practical- 
ly read  Mr.  Patterson  out  of  the  party,  and  011 
the  other  to  invest  him  with  its  leadership,  al- 
though it  was  on  the  admission  of  proxies  that 
the  lines  were  drawn.  Finall}r,  after  all  parties 
were  tired  of  the  struggle,  the  committee  was 
brought  down  to  business  upon  a  motion  to  hold 
the  convention  in  Denver  on  September  5.  An 
amendment  to  hold  the  convention  in  Pueblo  on 
September  12,  was  carried.  The  committee  was 
controlled  by  the  Cleveland  men,  and  refused  to 
take  any  action  that  would  further  the  plans  of 
Mr.  Patterson.  At  a  caucus  of  those  favorable  to 
fusion  August  14  had  been  fixed  upon  as  the  date 


172  REPUBLICAN  PRIMARIES 

of  the  convention.  In  fixing-  it  for  a  month  later 
the  committee  dealt  the  last  blow  to  an}^  hope* 
that  Mr.  Patterson  may  have  had  in  the  regular 
Democratic  organization. 

The  Republican  county  committee  of  Arapa- 
hoe  county  met  on  August  27  to  fix  dates  for  the 
primaries  and  county  convention,  the  state  con- 
vention having-  been  called  to  meet  at  Pueblo  on 
September  8.  It  had  been  freely  predicted  that 
this  meeting-  would  be  characterized  by  a  fierce 
struggle  between  contending-  factions,  but  con- 
trary to  this  expectation  not  a  ripple  disturbed 
the  proceedings.  The  time  for  holding-  the  con- 
vention was  quickl}T  agreed  upon  and  the  com- 
mittee adjourned  without  indulging  in  the  an- 
ticipated wrangle. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  the  pri- 
maries passed  off  without  a  struggle.  The  old 
cries  of  Wolcott  and  anti-Wolcott  were  raised 
for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  lines,  the  Wolcott 
faction  and  the  "  Gang"  of  1890  being  regarded 
as  identical  by  their  opponents.  Differences  had 
arisen  between  Senator  Wolcott  and  some  of  his 
former  stanch  supporters,  and  the  contest  for  the 
naming  of  delegates  to  the  state  convention  was 
conducted  with  the  avowed  purpose  on  one  side 
to  defeat  the  Wolcott  faction,  and  on  the  other  to 
prevent  his  opponents  from  controlling  the  dele- 
gation. The  open  avowal  was  made  that  the 
fight  against  Wolcott  was  preliminary  to  an  ef- 
fort to  defeat  his  re-election  to  the  United  States 
senate,  by  securing  control  of  the  political  ma- 
chinery of  the  state,  and  consequently  the  con- 


AN  ANTI-WOLCOTT  CONVENTION  173 

test  was  exceedingly  warm,  verging-  on  a  bitter- 
ness that  gave  promise  of  an  open  rupture. 

The  contest  for  the  congressional  nomination 
in  the  first  district,  for  the  purposes  of  the  cam- 
paign, hinged  somewhat  upon  this  fight  against 
Senator  Wolcott.  If.  Wolcott  did  not  actively 
support  the  pretensions  of  Mr.  Stevens  to  this 
nomination  he  at  least  seemed  to  consent  thereto. 
This,  considering  some  things  that  had  occurred, 
was  somewhat  of  a  concession  on  the  part  of 
Wolcott.  It  is  doubtful  if  Senator  Wolcott  really 
entrusted  his  interests  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Ste- 
vens, but  however  that  may  have  been,  Stevens 
was  supported  by  Wolcott's  friends,  and  was,  by 
common  consent  regarded  as  Mr.  Wolcott's 
choice.  Opposed  to  Stevens  for  the  congression- 
al nomination  was  Karl  B.  Coe.  A  large  follow- 
ing- of  the  party  desired  the  nomination  of  Frank 
C.  Goudy,  but  Mr.  Goudy  declined  to  enter  the 
contest,  and  Coe  and  Stevens  were  left  to  fight  it 
out  without  interference.  The  primaries  were  in 
the  main  well-conducted,  received  the  approval 
of  a  majority  of  the  part}^,  and~resulted  in  a  vie- 
to^  for  the  anti- Wolcott  or  Coe  faction. 

During  the  month  of  July  an  understanding 
had  been  arrived  at  b}^  the  party  leaders  that  an 
effort  should  be  made  to  nominate  Judge  Helm 
for  governor.  He  had  just  been  elected  to  a  sec- 
ond term  on  the  supreme  bench,  but  contemplat- 
ed resigning  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in 
practise  at  the  bar,  and  it  was  with  considerable 
difficulty  that  he  was  induced  to  make  the  race. 
He  had  counted  with  reason  upon  the  support  of 


174  A   BOLT   AVERTED 

both  senators,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Arapahoe 
county  convention  it  was  understood  that  he 
should  be  supported  b}^  the  delegation  from  that 
county,  and  that,  should  he  become  the  nominee, 
he  should  receive  the  active  support  of  an  united 
part}T.  That  he  did  not  receive  the  support  that 
he  had  reason  to  expect  now  seems  clear,  and 
whatever  ma3r  have  been  the  causes  of  the  defec- 
tion there  are  good  reasons  for  the  belief  that 
had  it  not  been  for  treacher}^  in  the  Republican 
party,  Mr.  Coe  and  the  entire  state  ticket  would 
have  carried  the  first  congressional  district.  It  is 
certain  that  a  much  larger  number  of  Republi- 
cans voted  against  the  state  and  congressional 
tickets  in  the  first  district  than  can  be  accounted 
for  by  the  political  upheaval  which  followed  the 
national  conventions  of  the  old  parties. 

When  the  Arapahoe  county  convention  met 
on  the  5th  of  September,  there  were  serious  indi- 
cations of  the  usual  bolt.  While  the  anti-Wolcott 
faction,  which  supported  the  aspirations  of  Mr. 
Coe  to  the  congressional  nomination,  were  clear- 
ly in  the  majority,  the  margin  was  too  close  to 
be  counted  on  with  certainty,  and  the  adherents 
of  Mr.  Stevens  seemed  disposed  to  carry  their 
man  through  with  a  rush,  if  possible.  This  dis- 
position was  summarily  checked  by  Mr.  Coe, 
however,  who,  as  chairman  of  the  county  com- 
mittee, called  the  convention  to  order.  The  con- 
test in  the  convention  was  over  the  exclusion  of 
the  delegates  chosen  in  precincts  where  the 
watchers  appointed  by  the  committee  had  not 
been  admitted.  Mr.  Coe  declined  to  recognize 


COE  NOMINATED  FOR  CONGRESvS  175 

these  delegates,  and  the  Stevens  faction  made  a 
rush  for  the  platform.  Failing-  in  their  apparent 
design  of  capturing-  the  convention  03^  force,  dur- 
ing- the  calling-  of  the  roll  on  the  election  of  a 
chairman  they  returned  to  their  seats,  and  the 
ballotting  proceeded,  resulting  in  the  election  of 
Jos.  H.  Smith,  representing  the  Coe  faction,  by  a 
vote  of  197,  to  167  for  J.  C.  Twombly,  who  had  been 
nominated  by  the  Stevens  men.  Some  members 
of  the  defeated  faction  called  for  a  bolt,  and  most 
of  that  faction  retired  to  the  rear  of  the  hall, 
where  conciliatory  speeches  made  by  Messrs. 
Stevens  and  Twombly  calmed  down  the  excite- 
ment, and  the  convention  proceeded  with  its  bus- 
iness, electing  a  Coe  delegation  to  the  district 
convention.  For  once  an  Arapahoe  count}5-  con- 
vention concluded  its  work  without  a  bolt.  The 
local  ticket  named  was  one  that  commanded  the 
respect  of  ever}^  Republican  in  the  count}^,  and 
with  one  or  two  exceptions  could  not  have  been 
improved.  It  was  endorsed  from  top  to  bottom 
by  the  Republican,  and  for  the  first  time  in  several 
years  the  Republican  party  of  Arapahoe  county 
seemed  to  be  thoroughly  united. 

The  two  congressional  conventions  met  on 
September  6,  for  the  first  district  in  Denver, 
where  Earl  B.  Coe  was  nominated,  and  for  the 
second  in  Colorado  Springs,  where  H.  H.  Eddy 
was  the  nominee.  Both  nominations  were  hear- 
tily approved,  by  the  rank  and  file  as  well  as  by 
the  leading  Republican  papers  of  the  state,  and 
there  seemed  every  reason  for  the  belief  that  the 
nominees  would  lead  the  party  to  a  splendid  vie- 


176  REPUBLICAN  STATE  CONVENTION 

tory — an  expectation   that  only  had   the  effect  of 
embittering  the  result. 

When  the  Republican  state  convention  met  at 
Pueblo  on  September  8,  the  extent  of  the  possible 
defection  to  the  new  party  was  first  made  mani- 
fest to  the  Republicans  of  the  state.  It  was  con- 
ceded that  the  danger  of  serious  loss  was  very 
great,  and  that  there  was  a  possibilit}'  of  losing 
the  state.  The  necessity  for  the  most  absolute 
harmony  was  therefore  made  plain,  and  the  re- 
sult was  that  the  proceedings  of  the  convention 
were  more  absolutely  free  from  disturbing  ele- 
ments than  any  that  had  been  previously  held  in 
Colorado.  Only  one  sharp  struggle  took  place 
— that  for  the  nomination  for  state  treasurer— and 
that  was  entirely  friendly  throughout,  H.K.  Mul- 
nix  finally  securing  a  nomination  over  N.  S.  Wai- 
pole,  of  Pueblo.  The  nomination  of  Judge  Helm 
for  governor  was  conceded  before  the  convention 
was  called  to  order,  and  therefore  his  nomination 
by  acclamation  came  as  a  matter  of  course.  He 
had  fairly  won  the  honor  by  hard  work  in  his 
profession.  He  had  been  a  member  of  both 
houses  of  the  general  assembl}^  district  attor- 
ne}r,  judge  of  the  district  court,  and  a  justice  of 
the  supreme  court,  and  in  all  these  positions  had 
been  distinguished  by  a  modest,  industrious  and 
conscientious  discharge  of  his  duty.  He  had  at- 
tained high  standing  in  his  profession  by  his 
own  efforts,  and  it  was  felt  that  he  would  add 
great  strength  to  the  ticket,  and  that  his  nomina- 
tion would  go  very  far  toward  counteracting  any 


HELM  FOR   GOVERNOR  177 

effort  to  draw  Republicans  to  the  support  of  the 
third  party,  headed  b}^  such  a  man  as  Waite, 
then  entirely  unknown.  He  had  also  been  elected 
to  a  second  term  on  the  supreme  bench  by  a 
handsome  majority.  All  of  these  considerations 
gave  him  so  great  prominence  that  from  the 
time  his  name  was  first  mentioned  other  aspi- 
rants for  the  honor  were  scarcely  thought  of. 

The  other  candidates  on  the  state  ticket  were 
of  the  same  character,  and  when  the  convention 
adjourned  it  was  the  general  opinion  that  there 
had  never  been  a  ticket  nominated  in  the  state 
more  entirel)r  worthy  of  the  support  of  ever}- 
member  of  the  party.  It  was  not  thought  possi- 
ble that  -any  large  number  of  Republicans  could 
be  drawn  away  from  so  excellent  a  ticket  to  the 
support  of  a  ticket  composed  of  men  picked  up 
.from  anywhere,  absolutely  unknown,  and  with- 
out any  guarantee  of  special  fitness,  respectabili- 
ty, or  even  a  knowledge  of  the  duties  which,  if 
elected,  the}r  would  be  called  upon  to  perform. 
No  political  party  ever  went  into  a  campaign  bet- 
ter equipped  for  victory,  and  suffered  a  more  dis- 
astrous defeat. 

A  resolution  had  been  introduced  in  the  con- 
vention instructing  the  nominees  for  the  electo- 
ral ticket,  should  they  be  elected,  to  vote  for  no 
candidate  for  president  who  was  not  known  to  be 
friendly  to  silver.  Had  this  resolution  been 
adopted  there  is  reason  for  the  belief  that  there 
would  have  been  a  different  ending  to  the  cam- 
paign. But  the  resolution  was  considered  im- 
politic, and  was  so  earnestl}-  opposed  by  leading 


178  THE   DEMOCRATIC   vSITUATION 

members  of  the  convention  that  it  remained 
buried  in  the  committee. 

While  the  Republicans  were  engaged  in  select- 
ing their  state  ticket,  the  Democratic  factions  of 
Arapahoe  county  were  having  their  final  strug- 
gle for  supremacy.  The  Patterson  faction  had 
made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  capture  the 
Arapahoe  county  convention  of  the  People's  par- 
ty,  which  met  on  August  28  to  nominate  a  county 
and  legislative  ticket.  Several  Patterson  men  se- 
cured seats  in  the  convention,  but  they  were  en- 
tirely ignored,  and  the  convention  nominated  a 
straight,  middle-of-the-road  ticket,  and  adopted 
characteristic  resolutions,  cutting  loose  from 
everything*  except  the  Omaha  platform. 

The  Arapahoe  county  Democratic  primaries 
were  called  for  September  8,  and  long  before  that 
date  it  was  evident  that  the  result  would  be  two 
delegations  claiming  admission  to  the  state  con- 
vention. The  Patterson  faction  controlled  the 
party  machinery  of  the  county,  and  named  the 
judges,  selected  the  polling  places,  and  generalty 
managed  things  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render 
morally  certain  the  selection  of  delegates  who 
would  endeavor  to  prevent  the  naming  of  a 
Cleveland  electoral  ticket.  C.  S.  Thomas,  the 
member  of  the  national  executive  committee  for 
Colorado,  favored  fusion  with  'the  Populists  with- 
out abandoning  the  party  organization,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  taking  Colorado  out  of  the  Re- 
publican column.  Mr.  Patterson  desired  to  so 
control  the  state  convention  as  to  secure  the  en- 
dorsement of  the  Weaver  electors  and  at  the 


FUSION  AND  CONFUSION  179 

same  time  effect  an  arrangement  whereby  the 
state  ticket  might  be  made  satisfactory  to  the  Pop- 
ulists, while  it  might  be  considered,  for  cam- 
paign purposes,  the  simon  pure  Democratic  article- 
The  straight  Democrats  denounced  both  schemes 
as  treason  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  insisted 
upon  an  entirely  distinct  ticket,  headed  by  Cleve- 
land electors.  It  was  charged  at  the  time  that 
there  was  a  perfect  understanding  between  Pat- 
terson and  Thomas,  and  that  the  latter  was  only 
playing1  into  the  former's  hands  in  assuming  his 
position  regarding  a  fusion  with  the  Populists. 
On  behalf  of  Mr.  Thomas  it  was  alleged  that  he 
had  the  authority  of  Mr.  Harrit}7,  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  national  committee  for  the  fusion. 
This  the  straight  Democrats  denied,  quoting  Mr. 
Harrity  himself  in  support  of  the  denial.  It  was 
also  claimed  that  the  bolt  of  the  News  was  not  the 
act  of  Mr.  Patterson,  but  that  John  Arkins  was 
responsible  therefor;  that  Mr.  Patterson's  first  in- 
timation of  the  bolt  was  received  when  he  was  in 
consultation  with  the  other  leaders  of  the  oppo- 
sition to  Cleveland  regarding  the  terms  upon 
which  they  would  give  their  heart}^  support  to 
the  head  of  the  ticket;  that  Mr.  Thomas's  position 
was  taken  for  the  purpose  of  helping  Patterson 
out  of  a  very  disagreeable  dilemma,  the  result  of 
the  imprudence  of  his  partner,  and  that  all  of  Mr. 
Patterson's  efforts  were  with  the  end  in  view  of 
maintaining  his  position  in  the  Democratic  par- 
ty. It  is  difficult  to  dissect  motives  amid  such  a 
mass  of  contradictions,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  any 
of  these  rumors  were  well  founded.  It  is  much 


180  DEMOCRATS  DIVIDE 

more  likely  that  Mr.  Patterson  felt  that  it  was 
necessary  to  show  some  of  his  political  asso- 
ciates who  had  been  opposing"  him  for  j'ears,  that 
he  was  able  to  control  the  situation  despite  their 
opposition,  and  that  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  still  regarded  him  as  a  leader  of 
the  part}^.  If  this  be  the  correct  presumption 
the  result,  at  least  so  far  as  the  convention  and 
the  majority  of  the  Democrats  of  Colorado  were 
concerned,  showed  that  he  had  not  overestimated 
his  strength. 

When  the  polling  places  in  Denver  were  open- 
ed it  was  found  that  there  was  not  a  chance  for 
the  straight  Democrats.  In  some  places  the 
judges  were  not  to  be  found  at  the  polls;  in  oth- 
ers they  refused  to  admit  the  watchers  appointed 
by  the  constituted  authorities,  and  other  polls 
were  opened.  The  result  was  that  in  nearly  all 
the  districts  there  were  two  polling  places,  and 
the  polls  closed  with  a  certainty  of  contesting 
delegations  in  the  state  convention. 

Both  factions  held  count}'  conventions  on  the 
10th,  each  selecting  a  delegationjto  the  state  con- 
vention and  adjourning  without  nominating  a 
county  ticket,  the  Cleveland  faction  to  September 
19,  and  the  Weaverites  to  the  22d. 

There  have  been  some  stormy  scenes  in  Re- 
publican conventions  in  Colorado,  but  nothing 
to  compare  with  that  which  occurred  upon  the 
meeting  of  the  Democratic  state  convention  at 
Pueblo  on  September  12.  The  Weaverites  were 
distinguished  by  purple  and  the  Cleveland  dele- 
gates by  white  badges,  and  it  was  easily  seen 


DEMOCRATIC  STATE  CONVENTION  181 

that  the  Patterson  men  had  the  best  in  numbers 
if  not  in  argument.  When  the  convention  was 
called  to  order  b}^  Chairman  Arbuckle  he  pro- 
ceeded to  read  the  list  of  delegates  as  prepared 
by  himself.  This  was  instantly  objected  to  and 
the  row  commenced.  After  some  acrimonious 
debate  upon  the  right  of  the  chairman  to  assume 
this  power,  Mr.  Arbuckle  ruled  that  it  was  his 
right  to  prepare  the  preliminary  roll  and  ordered 
the  roll  to  be  called.  The  confusion  again  broke 
out,  and  Arbuckle,  in  doubt  as  to  the  course  to 
pursue,  was  compelled  to  seek  advice  from  Pat- 
terson and  Thomas.  But  he  could  do  little  more 
than  listen  to  the  contentions  of  the  struggling 
factions.  C.  J.  Hughes,  in  a  splendid  burst  of  in- 
dignant oratory,  cautioned  the  chair  to  be  care- 
ful how  he  attempted  to  stifle  the  voice  of  the 
Democracy  of  Colorado,  and  was  followed  by  Mr. 
Thomas  with  a  point  of  order.  Dozens  of  excit- 
ed delegates  were  on  their  feet  at  once,  fiercely 
gesticulating,  and  vainly  endeavoring*  to  make 
themselves  heard  and  secure  recognition  from 
the  chair.  The  chair  seemed  determined  to  rec- 
ognize no  one  except  Mr.  Patterson  or  Mr.  Thom- 
as. Mr.  Arbuckle  did  not  read  the  list  of  dele- 
gates from  Arapahoe  county,  in  which  there  was 
a  contest,  but  nullified  this  apparent  fairness  by 
announcing  that  the  Patterson  delegates  from 
Arapahoe  would  be  allowed  to  vote  for  the  tem- 
porary chairman.  This  announcement  nearly 
caused  a  free  fight,  but  the  chair  stuck  to  his 
text,  and  received  the  90  votes  of  Arapahoe  coun- 
ty for  T.  J.  O'Donnell.  Jere  Mahone}^  offered  90 


182  IT  AVAvS   PATTERSON'S  CONVENTION 

votes  from  Arapahoe  for  B.  F.  McDaniel,of  Pueb- 
lo, but  the  vote  was  not  received.  Seven  votes 
from  Lake  county  were  cast  for  McDaniel,  but 
the  chair  decided  that  the  Lake  county  delega- 
tion having-  adopted  the  unit  rule,  the}'  could  not 
be  received,  and  the  Lake  county  vote  was  count- 
ed in  full  for  O'Donnel.  The  protests  of  the 
Cleveland  wing  were  unavailing.  It  was  evident 
that  the  majority  of  the  convention  took  the  cue 
from  Mr.  Patterson,  and  that  that  gentleman  in 
one  of  the  most  determined  faction  fights  in  the 
history  of  his  part}',  had  established  his  claim  to 
the  leadership  of  the  Colorado  Democracy,  and 
subsequent  events  proved  the  wisdom  of  Patter- 
son's course,  from  a  purely  political  standpoint, 
for  notwithstanding  Populist  claims  the  result  of 
the  election  places  beyond  dispute  the  fact  that 
the  greater  part  of  the  vote  for  Waite  was  de- 
rived from  the  Democratic  party  through  the  di- 
rect, personal  influence  of  T.  M.  Patterson.  The 
Populists  had  not  sufficient  political  sense  to  lis- 
ten to  his  suggestions,  and  some  of  their  leaders 
were  afraid  of  his  influence  in  their  party.  Had 
he  permitted  himself  to  be  governed  by  like  pet- 
ty motives,  and  given  ear  to  the  demands  of  the 
Cleveland  Democracy  for  the  nomination  of  a 
straight  Democratic  ticket,  the  result  would  have 
been  a  Republican  victor}-.  But  the  great  object 
to  be  attained  was  Republican  defeat,  and  if  the 
Populists  were  silly  enough  to  reject  his  over- 
tures, but  one  thing  remained  to  be  done — to  as- 
sist them  to  accomplish  what  they  could  never 
have  accomplished  unaided.  Mr.  Patterson's 


A   BOLT  FOLLOWS  183 

consummate  skill  as  a  politician  was  never  exhib- 
ited to  better  advantage  than  in  the  campaign  of 
1892.  Under  Patterson's  influence  but  one  result 
of  the  contest  in  the  convention  was  possible. 
The  chair  announced  that  O'Donnell  had  received 
331  votes  and  McDaniel  80.  The  convention  had 
had  enough  for  one  session  and  adjourned  till 
evening. 

At  the  night  session  two  reports  were  made 
from  the  credentials  committee,  the  majority  re- 
port seating  the  Patterson  and  the  minority  the 
straight  delegation  from  Arapahoe  county.  The 
Weaverites  attempted  to  shut  off  all  debate  on 
the  minority  report,  and  it  was  only  through  the 
courtesy  of  Mr  Patterson  that  the  report  was  de- 
bated at  all.  Debate  was  fruitless,  however.  The 
speakers  were  jeered  and  hooted,  and  at  the  con- 
clusion of  a  manly  appeal  for  fair  treatment,  by 
C.  J.  Hughes,  the  majority  report  was  adopted  by 
a  viva  voce  vote. 

The  Cleveland  delegates  at  this  juncture  with- 
drew to  the  side  of  the  hall  and,  as  the  portraits 
of  Cleveland  andStephenson  were  removed  from 
the  stage,  set  up  a  roar  which  caused  Chairman 
O'Donnell  to  call  upon  the  police  to  arrest  them 
if  they  did  not  leave  the  hall.  The  Cleveland 
faction  thereupon  left  the  Weaverites,  by  this 
time  worked  up  to  a  frenzj7,  to  their  own  devices. 

But  the  contest  was  not  yet  over.  O'Donnell 
was  made  permanent  chairman  and  Arbuckle 
chairman  of  the  state  committee.  Mr.  Patterson 
presented  the  resolutions,  and  a  minority  of  the 
platform  committee  protested  against  the  adop- 


184  WEAVER 


tion  of  an  address  to  the  people,  provided  for  in 
the  resolutions,  which  endorsed  the  candidacy  of 
Weaver  and  Field*  Without  action  on  the  resolu- 
tions the  Weaver  electors  were  endorsed. 

A  delegate  asked  Mr.  Thomas  how  he  could 
remain  a  member  of  the  national  committee  and 
endorse  Weaver.  This  brought  Mr.  Thomas  to 
his  feet,  and  after  a  speech  in  which  he  endea- 
vored to  make  it  appear  that  while  he  was  not  a 
Pop4ilist,  but  was  a  supporter  of  Cleveland,  he 
could  favor  the  endorsement  of  the  Populist 
electors  and  consistently  retain  his  place  on  the 
national  committee,  he  moved  to  amend  the  re- 
port by  striking-  out  the  names  of  Weaver  and 
Field  and  substituting  those  of  the  Populist 
electors.  The  chair  ruled  the  motion  out  of  or- 
der, and  Mr.  Thomas  declared  that  if  the  address 
was  adopted  in  its  present  form  there  would  be 
another  bolt.  Mr.  Patterson  explained  that  Mr* 
Thomas  was  in  favor  of  taking  the  state  from  the 
Republicans  for  the  purpose  of  helping  Cleve- 
land, while  the  speaker  was  against  Cleveland, 
and  would  regard  the  election  of  Weaver  as  a 
beneficent  result.  Mr.  Thomas  took  an  appeal 
from  the  decision  of  the  chair.  The  chair  at  first 
refused  to  entertain  the  appeal,  but  after  more 
lurid  argument,  redolent  of  brimstone  and  bril- 
liant with  pyrotechnical  oratory,  the  appeal  was 
put,  and  the  chair  sustained  by  a  vote  of  267  to  82< 
Thomas  was  in  a  white  heat,  and  when  Currigan 
moved  that  the  state  committee  be  authorized  to 
put  a  state  ticket  in  the  field,  moved  that  it  be  in- 
structed to  nominate  a  straight  democratic  ticket' 


THE   WATERS  PART  185 

At  this  point  Mr.  Patterson,  in  an  alleged  Demo- 
cratic convention,  stepped  entirel}7  outside  of  his 
party,  and  insisted  that  the  committee  should  be 
authorized  to  select  whom  they  chose.  Mr. 
Thomas  thereupon  declared  that  he  had  gone  as 
far  as  he  proposed  to,  and  would  not  support 
such  a  ticket. 

Mr.  Patterson  retorted  that  he  was  "sure  there 
would  come  a  parting-  of  the  waters."  Delegates 
all  over  the  house  arose  to  denounce  the  Curri- 
gan  motion  and  Mr.  Thomas  exclaimed,  dram- 
atically, "The  parting  of  the  waters  has  come." 
The  Currigan  motion  prevailed,  232  to  107,  and  the 
convention  adjourned. 

.This  was,  in  many  respects,  the  most  remarka- 
ble political  gathering  ever  held  in  the  state.  It 
met  as  a  Democratic  convention  and  adjourned 
as  a  Populist  auxiliary.  But  it  was  cliiefl3r  dis- 
tinguished for  the  two-fold  victory  gained  b}r  Mr. 
Patterson— first  over  the  dyed-in-the-wool  Demo- 
crats and  then  over  that  element  in  the  part}',  led 
by  Mr.  Thomas,  which,  while  not  averse  to  hav- 
ing the  state  carried  by  the  Populist  electors  as 
an  auxiliary  aid  to  the  national  Democratic  tick- 
et, strenuously  objected  to  the  endorsement  of 
Populist  candidates  by  a  Democratic  convention. 
Neither  Mr.  Patterson  nor  his  convention  was  in 
a  mood  for  splitting  hairs.  The  state  was  sure  to 
go  Populist  or  Republican,  and  the}7  proposed  to 
see  that  the  Republicans  did  not  win — and  did  it. 

Meantime  the  Cleveland  Democrats,  who  had 
organized  by  electing  Jere  Mahone}^  temporary 
chairman,  upon  leaving  the  hall  assembled  at 


186  STRAIGHT   DEMOCRATS   NOMINATE 

the  Grand  hotel,  and  soon  afterward  secured  a  hall 
and  completed  the  organization  of  their  conven- 
tion. B.  F.  McDaniel  was  elected  permanent 
chairman,  and  after  discussion  of  the  situation 
an  adjournment  was  had  to  the  following-  day. 

The  second  district  Democratic  congressional 
convention  had  been  in  session  during  the  da}-, 
and  had  endorsed  the  Populist  nominee  for  con- 
gress, John  C.  Bell. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  Cleveland  De- 
mocracy took  possession  of  the  Mineral  Palace, 
and  proceeded  with  dignity  and  deliberation,  in 
striking  contrast  with  the  turbulent  scenes  of 
the  da}r  before,  to  nominate  a  Democratic  ticket. 
But  little  time  was  wasted.  An  electoral  ticket 
was  named,  J.  H.  Maupin  was  nominated  for  gov- 
ernor, the  remainder  of  the  ticket  was  made  up 
of  men  whose  devotion  to  the  principles  of  the 
party  was  beyond  question,  and  after  the  adop- 
tion of  resolutions  appropriate  to  the  occasion 
the  convention  adjourned,  the  delegates  feeling 
gratified  at  their  succesful  effort  to  preserve  the 
party  organization. 

The  Populists  of  the  first  congressional  dis- 
trict had  nominated  Myron  W.  Reed  as  their  can- 
didate, and  a  strong  effort  was  making  to  secure 
for  that  gentleman  the  endorsement  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party.  Mr.  Reed  was  absent,  however, 
and  the  matter  was  held  in  abeyance  until  his  re- 
turn, while  his  numerous  personal  friends  in  all 
parties  earnestly  endeavored  to  prevent  his  ac- 
ceptance of  what  they  could  not  but  feel  was  a 
doubtful  honor,  even  if  he  should  be  elected. 


MORE   DEMOCRATIC  CONTESTS  187 

Mr.  Patterson,  in  the  meantime  was  not  idle. 
He  had  turned  over  the  bulk  of  the  Democratic 
party  to  thfe  Populists,  but  that  part}^,  in  its  fool- 
ish conceit,  failed  to  properly  appreciate  his  as- 
sistance, and  refused  to  accord  him  the  right  to 
share  in  the  deliberations  of  the  party.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Waite  the  News 
had  denounced  the  nomination,  characterizing 
Waite  as  lacking-  in  the  "calibre  and  judgment 
necessary  for  so  important  a  position/'  following 
up  this  statement  on  the  next  day  by  declaring 
that  the  nominee  was  not  a  man  of  "that  breadth 
of  mind,  that  tolerance  of  spirit,  that  depth  of 
•  character,"  required  in  the  governor  of  the  state. 
While  these  criticisms  were  amply  justified  hy 
subsequent  events,  they  were  resented  b}^  Waite 
and  his  followers,  who  were  not  sufficiently 
skilled  in  the  science  of  politics  to  understand 
the  necessity  of  securing  so  powerful  an  ally  as 
Mr.  Patterson  at  any  cost  to  their  personal  feel- 
ings. With  the  exception  of  the  Democratic  state 
convention,  Mr.  Patterson  had  not  been  success- 
ful in  his  numerous  political  undertakings.  He 
had  failed  in  securing  the  co-operation  of  the 
Populist  leaders,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
he  alone  had  made  their  success  possible,  and  it 
was  now  necessary  that  he  should  have  at  least 
an  appearance  of  harmony  between  the  Populists 
and  the  Silver  Democrats,  as  the  Patterson  wing 
of  the  Democracy  was  called.  Though  Mr.  Pat- 
terson was  master  of  the  situation,  he  could  not 
afford  to  resent  the  attitude  of  the  Populists,  and 
every  effort  was  made  to  conciliate  Waite,  whose 


188  WAITE  CONCEDES  NOTHING 

radical  views  and  untutored  readiness  of  speech 
had  alread}^  captured  the  great  mass  of  the  Pop- 
ulist following-,  and  made  a  strong-  impression 
upon  such  Democrats  and  Republicans  as  had 
adopted  the  theory  that  the  most  effective  way  of 
protesting  against  the  injustice  to  silver  was  to 
vote  the  Populist  ticket.  Kver3rthing*  possible 
was  done  to  secure  some  concessions  from  Waite 
in  the  event  of  his  election,  in  consideration  of 
the  support  of  Mr.  Patterson  and  the  News,  with- 
out avail.  Waite,  with  the  lack  of  policy  charac- 
teristic of  his  administration,  absolutely  refused 
to  concede  an}rthing  to  his  Democratic  allies,  and 
did  not  hesitate  to  expose  the  pending  negotia- 
tions as  an  earnest  of  his  determination  to  refuse 
the  assistance  offered.  Never  was  a  political  lu- 
natic more  fortunate,  in  spite  of  his  own  lunac}-. 
The  negotiations  continued,  however,  Waite  still 
remaining  firm  and  un3'ielding,  and  the  Demo- 
cratic demands  growing  constantly  smaller,  un- 
til finally  a  stage  was  reached  where  there  was  a 
fair  prospect  of  a  common  understanding. 

While  these  sub  rosa  negotiations  were  in  pro- 
gress there  was  work  of  another  character  for 
Mr.  Patterson,  in  order  to  round  up  his  victory 
in  the  Democratic  party.  The  straight  Demo- 
crats of  Arapahoe  county  had  adjourned  their 
convention  to  September  19th,  and  on  that  date 
met  to  nominate  a  full  county  and  legislative 
ticket.  It  needed  but  one  or  two  tentative  efforts 
in  this  direction  to  show  that  nothing  could  be 
expected  in  that  body,  and  the  pure  Democracy 
nominated  a  ticket,  which,  whatever  it  may  have 


DEMOCRATIC  WRANGLING  189 

lacked  in  other  respects,  was  thoroughly-  respect- 
able. 

There  now  remained  but  the  county  conven- 
tion of  the  Silver  Democrats,  elected  by  Mr.  Pat- 
terson's own  followers,  which,  after  nominating 
Judge  Miller  for  county  judge,  had  adjourned  to 
September  22.  Here  of  course  Mr.  Patterson  had 
every  reason  to  anticipate  entire  success,  but 
while  general^  in  line  with  him  the  convention 
in  some  particulars  acted  independently  in  mak- 
ing- its  nominations. 

The  state  committee  of  the  Silver  Democrats 
was  called  to  meet  on  September  26,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  naming  a  state  ticket  in  accordance  with 
the  resolution  adopted  at  Pueblo.  Negotiations 
with  the  Populist  committee  had  been  constant 
but  fruitless;  had  resulted  in  nothing  tangible, 
and  it  was  thought  best  by  the  leading  Silver 
Democrats  that  the  Arapahoe  convention  should 
adjourn  without  making*  nominations  until  after 
the  meeting  of  the  state  committee,  in  order  that 
it  might  be  used  in  bringing  Waite  to  terms.  It 
was  designed  to  use  the  count}7-  convention  as 
a  trump  card  to  force  concessions  from  the  Pop- 
ulists. But  many  of  the  members  of  the  county 
convention  were  not  prepared  to  go  the  length  of 
entirely  separating  from  the  Democratic  party. 
Some  had  already  repudiated  the  Patterson  pro- 
gramme and  joined  the  straight  Democrats,  and 
when  the  convention  was  called  to  order  but  few 
were  present.  A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Patter- 
son that  the  convention  appoint  a  committee  to 
make  nominations  and  adjourn.  This  created 


190  A  MIXED   COUNTY   TICKET 

such  a  roar  of  dissent  that  the  motion  was  with- 
drawn. Mr.  Thomas  once  more  presented  his  ob- 
jections to  the  endorsement  of  Weaver  and  Field? 
which  was  embodied  in  a  resolution  presented, 
approving  the  action  of  the  Pueblo  convention, 
but  on  a  viva  voce  vote  the  chair  declared  the 
resolution  adopted.  But  this  seemed  to  be  as  far 
as  the  delegates  cared  to  go.  The}-  did  not  care  to 
entirely  commit  the  convention  to  the  Populist 
candidates  and  the  Omaha  platform,  and  when 
Lafe  Pence  placed  in  nomination  the  nominees 
for  the  state  senate  on  the  Populist  ticket,  there 
were  strong  objections.  But,  as  the  opposition 
was  not  prepared,  it  was  voted  down.  For  float 
senator,  however,  the  straight  Democrats  were 
successful  in  getting  their  man  by  a  vote  of  113 
to  78.  On  the  ticket  for  members  of  the  lower 
house  two  of  the  Populist  nominees  were  swal- 
lowed with  some  grimaces,  but  by  this  time  the 
straight  Democrats  had  recovered  their  wind, 
and  Otis  B.  Spencer  was  placed  in  nomination  as 
against  Andrew  Chalmers,  a  Populist  nominee. 
The  chairman,  John  D.  McGilvray,  who  had  been 
a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  of  the  Silver 
Democrats,  but  had  decided  to  retain  his  hold 
upon  the  Democratic  organization,  refused  to 
consider  Chalmers'  nomination,  and  declared 
Spencer  nominated.  After  the  usual  wrangle,  in 
which  the  beauties  of  harmon}^  were  illustrated 
by  contrast,  the  chair  decided  to  permit  a  vote, 
and  Mr.  Spencer  was  nominated,  receiving  174 
votes  to  39  for  Chalmers.  A  number  of  delegates 
here  left  the  hall,  and  the  subsequent  proceed- 


MORE  OVERTURES  TO  WAITE  191 

ings  were  rather  uninteresting-.  Several  more  of 
the  Populist  candidates  were  endorsed  apparent- 
ly because  there  seemed  to  be  no  Democrats  will- 
ing- to  accept  a  nomination.  Then  W.  F.  Kaub,  a 
nominee  of  the  straight  Democrats,  was  endorsed 
and  W.  H.  Clark  and  W.  S.  Brawley,  both  new  men, 
and  the  latter  a  colored  man,  were  put  on  the  tick- 
et. The  remainder  of  the  ticket  was  made  up 
very  g-enerally  from  the  Populist  ticket,  but  there 
was  no  enthusiasm  manifested,  and  it  was  plain 
that  to  manj^  of  the  delegates  the  proceedings 
were  somewhat  of  a  funereal  character — as  if  the 
convention  was  assisting-  at  the  obsequies  of  the 
Democratic  party.  And  yet  it  is  now  plain  that 
had  the  Democratic  party  entered  heartity  into 
the  plans  of  Mr.  Patterson  the  coalition  would 
have  controlled  the  legislative  as  well  as  the  ex- 
ecutive department  of  the  state  government. 

An  effort  had  been  made  to  purchase  the  with- 
drawal of  Waite  from  the  ticket,  $5000  having- 
been  named  as  the  figure,  but  Waite  was  not  the 
man  to  accept  a  bribe  of  that  character,  and  as  a 
last  resort  it  was  represented  to  him  that  he  could 
not  possibly  be  elected  without  the  aid  of  Mr. 
Patterson  and  the  News,  and  unless  he  agreed  to 
permit  the  Silver  Democrats  to  name  some  of  the 
gubernatorial  appointments,  that  aid  would  not 
be  forthcoming.  Waite  had  by  this  time  become 
thoroughly  imbued  with  a  sense  of  his  own  im- 
portance, and  the  certainty  of  his  election,  and 
was  disposed  to  arbitrarily  reject  all  overtures 
from  the  man  who  had  belittled  him.  But  his 
committee  thoug-ht  differently,  and  a  compact 


192  THE  NEWS  ENDORSES  WAITE 

was  entered  into,  so  loose  in  its  terms,  that  Waite, 
after  his  election,  found  little  difficult}7  in  evad- 
ing its  provisions.  The  state  committee  of  the 
Silver  Democrats,  on  the  ninth  ballot,  selected 
Waite  as  its  candidate  for  governor  by  a  vote  of 
23,  to  12  for  Maupin  and  9  for  Arbuckle,  the  mi- 
norit}7  refusing  to  make  the  nomination  unani- 
mous. The  majority  was  not  large,  but  it  was 
enough.  The  other  candidates  on  the  state  ticket 
were  endorsed  by  the  same  vote.  The  News  at 
once  accepted  the  situation,  disagreeable  though 
it  was.  Mr.  Patterson  had  been  constant  in  his  ~ 
efforts  to  secure  a  change  in  the  head  of  the  tick- 
et, and  to  support  a  man  whom  his  paper  had  de- 
nounced as  unfit  for  the  place  was  only  justifia- 
ble upon  the  ground  of  political  necessity.  But 
it  was  necessary,  and  though  the  mortification 
was  great,  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  bow  to  the 
situation.  Frequently  afterward  the  News  was 
compelled  to  sharpl}7  criticise  the  governor  it  had 
made,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  Waite  ever 
acknowledged  or  even  understood  the  great  sac- 
rifice made  by  that  paper  in  his  behalf. 

The  campaign  was  now,  after  two  months  of 
travail,  fairly  inaugurated,  and  was  character- 
ized b}r  the  methods  which  were  the  natural  out- 
come of  the  scenes  described  in  the  preceding- 
pages.  The  News  was  the  principal  factor  of  the 
Populist  campaign,  and  to  its  influence  more 
than  an}r  other  was  due  the  result  of  that  cam- 
paign. Entirely  devoted  to  Populist  success,  it 
recognize  no  obligations  that  might  possibly  in- 
terfere with  the  success  of  its  cause.  Character, 


THE  CAMPAIGN  INAUGURATED  193 

reputation,  unchallenged  respectability,  all  went 
for  nothing-  in  its  appeals  against  the  Republi- 
can candidates.  It  seized  upon  the  slightest 
threads  Upon  which  to  hang  charges  against  the 
gentlemen  who  were  the  nominees  of  the  Repub- 
lican part}7.  It  denounced  both  the  senators  of 
Colorado,  who  had  been  earnestl}7  at  work  in  the 
silver  cause,  as  enemies  of  the  white  metal,  and 
called  upon  Populists  to  refuse  to  hear  them.  It 
suggested  a  boycott  of  such  business  men  as 
refused  to  support  the  Populist  ticket,  as  enemies 
of  the  state  from  which  they  derived  their  sup- 
port. It  called  upon  its  readers  to  prevent  the 
holding  of  Republican  meetings,  under  the  pre- 
text that  such  gatherings  were  treasonable  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  state. 

The  result  of  such  advice,  scattered  broadcast 
all  over  the  state,  coupled  with  the  assertion  by 
Populist  orators  that  the  success  of  the  Populist 
ticket  would  be  at  once  followed  by  a  revival  of 
the  industries  of  Colorado,  better  wages,  and, 
-which  always  counted  with  a  Populist  audi- 
ence— the  downfall  of  capital,  can  readily  be  im- 
agined. Such  reputable  orators  as  Senators  Wol- 
cott  and  Teller,  Judge  Belford,  Mr.  Townsend, 
Charles  Hartzell  and  others— men  who  had  been 
frequently  honored  by  the  people  of  Colorado, 
were  greeted  with  hisses,  cat-calls  and  hooting. 
On  several  occasions  the  uproar  was  so  great 
that  they  could  not  be  heard.  In  a  number  of  in- 
stances mobs  of  Populists  whose  better  judg- 
ment and  sense  of  decorum  had  been  clouded  by 
these  appeals  to  prejudice,  took  possession  of 


194  A   HOWLING  CANVASS 

the  halls  secured  for  Republican  meetings  and 
fairly  howled  the  speakers  from  the  platforms. 
Business  men  were  plainly  told  that  if  they  sup- 
ported the  Republican  ticket  they  would  be  com- 
pelled to  go  out  of  business.  In  the  mountain 
towns  especiall}',  a  reign  of  terror  was  inaugu- 
rated. Two  weeks  before  the  election  it  was  evi- 
dent to  those  who  had  assisted  in  the  canvass  of 
the  state  that  the  Republican  ticket  could  not 
possibly  be  elected. 

Two  matters  of  considerable  importance  oc- 
curred during  the  heat  of  the  campaign.  Myron 
W.  Reed  had  been  tendered  the  nomination  for 
congress  from  the  first  district  by  both  wings  of 
the  Democracy  and  the  Populists.  After  consid- 
ering the  matter  for  several  weeks,  Mr.  Reed,  on 
October  1,  sent  a  letter  to  Mr.  Patterson  for  trans- 
mission to  the  committee,  declining  the  nomina- 
tion. Mr.  Patterson  held  the  letter  several  days, 
in  the  hope  of  securing  a  reconsideration  of  the 
declination,  but  Mr.  Reed  was  firm,  and  Lafe 
Pence  received  the  nomination  of  the  Populists 
and  Silver  Democrats,  while  the  straight  Demo- 
crats nominated  John  G.  Taylor. 

Secretary  of  State  Katon  recognized  the  ticket 
headed  b}-  Maupin  forgo vernor,and  refused  to  cer- 
tify that  of  the  Silver  Democrats.  On  September 
28  a  writ  was  issued  from  Judge  Rising's  court, 
enjoining  Mr.  Katon  from  certifying  the  nomina- 
tions made  by  the  Democratic  convention  pre- 
sided over  by  B.  F.  McDaniel  at  Pueblo.  The 
matter  was  fought  through  to  the  supreme  court, 
which  decided  that  each  of  the  tickets  nominated 


AFTER   THE  LEGISLATURE  195 

at  Ptieblo  should  be  certified  as  the  Democratic 
ticket.  The  result  was  two  Democratic  tickets  in 
the  field,  each  with  an  entirely  different  list  of 
names. 

As  the  campaign  progressed  the  aims  of  the 
Silver  Democrats  became  more  plainly  apparent. 
Not  a  day  passed  that  the  News  did  not  remind 
its  readers  that  the  important  element  in  the 
campaign  was  the  legislative  ticket.  Day  after 
da}7  it  urged  its  followers  to  "compromise  all  ex- 
isting differences  between  Populists  and  Demo- 
crats in  legislative  and  senatorial  districts  when 
there  are  two  tickets  in  the  field."  So  earnest  was 
the  News  in  this  matter  that  in  Populist  circles  it 
was  charged  that  Waite  was  to  be  traded  off  for 
the  legislature,  and  several  times  it  required  the 
most  earnest  efforts  to  prevent  the  Populists 
from  openly  repudiating  the  Patterson  alliance 

Merchants  and  business  men  were  frequent!} 
called  upon  to  contribute  to  the  Populist  cam- 
paign fund,  and  as  the  contributions  were  not  at 
alf  adequate  to  the  demands,  the  News  did  not 
hesitate  to  suggest  a  boycott  of  Republican  busi- 
ness men  by  the  assertion  that  the  voters  of  the 
Populist  part}^  would  "  bear  in  inincl  all  business 
men  who  strike  a  blow  against  silver's  friends, 
and  aid  and  assist  silver's  enemies."  It  also  ad- 
vised Populists  to  note  down  a  list  of  the  busi- 
ness men  who  participated  in  the  Republican 
business  men's  rally  in  Denver.  In  making 
the  charge  that  fraud  was  to  be  resorted  to  in  the 
election,  it  appealed  to  violence  by  reproducing 
from  a  San  Francisco  paper  a  cartoon  represent- 


196    STRAIGHT   DEMOCRATS   ENDORSE   WEAVER 

ing  a  gallows,  as  the  possible  result  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

During  the  campaign  efforts  were  constant  to 
secure  the  support  of  the  Cleveland  Democrats 
for  the  Weaver  electors.  Karlj^  in  October  Mr. 
Arbuckle  and  Senator  McKinley  went  to  New 
York  for  consultation  with  the  national  Demo- 
cratic committee.  Both  gentlemen  returned  the 
last  week  in  October,  and  it  became  at  once  ap- 
parent that  a  decided  change  had  taken  place  in 
the  sentiments  of  the  Cleveland  Democrats. 
Leaders  of  the  party  openly  advocated  the  with- 
drawal of  the  electoral  ticket,  and  the  substitu- 
tion of  the  Weaver  electors.  Others  were  in  favor 
of  withdrawing  the  former,  but  were  unalterabl}7 
opposed  to  the  substitution  of  the  latter,  insist- 
ing that  the  Democratic  part}' had  no  authority 
to  place  at  the  head  of  its  ticket  the  names  of 
candidates  of  any  other  party,  and  that  such  ac- 
tion would  in  no  way  bind  the  voters  of  the  party. 
This  class  insisted  that  if  the  Cleveland  electors 
were  withdrawn  the  electoral  ticket  should  be  left 
blank.  The  i\lews  and  Mr.  Patterson  opposed  the 
substitution  of  the  Weaver  electors,  and  de- 
nounced it  as  a  scheme  to  draw  votes  from  the 
Populist  state  ticket.  It  was  argued,  however, 
by  those  Democrats  who  favored  the  withdrawal, 
that  the  object  was  to  assist  Mr.  Cleveland,  and 
as  there  was  no  possibility  of  electing  Weaver 
the  only  result  would  be  the  loss  of  Colorado  to 
the  Republican  party,  and  if  anything  was  to  be 
done  at  all,  the  party  should  go  the  whole  length. 

The  Pueblo  convention  had  nominated  on  the 


SHARP  DEMOCRATIC   PASSAGES  197 

electoral  ticket  J.  N.  Carlile,  Ansel  Watrous,  J.  A. 
Shinn  and  C.  O.  Unfug.  These  gentlemen  were 
asked  to  resign,  and  October  29  the  deal  was 
closed,  the  Cleveland  electors  were  withdrawn, 
and  the  Weaver  electors  were  substituted  on  the 
straight  Democratic  ticket.  The  deal  was  repu- 
diated by  a  larg-e  number  of  stanch  Democrats. 
John  G.  Taylor,  candidate  for  congress  from  the 
first  district  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  openly  de- 
nounced it  in  a  ringing  letter  to  Chairman  McKin- 
ley,  in  which  he  stated  that  the  Democrats  of  Col- 
orado were  thereby  "deprived  of  all  semblance 
of  leadership  in  the  national  contest,  and  utterl}^ 
cut  off  from  the  cherished  privilege  of  voting 
openly  for  the  Democratic  candidate  for  the  pres- 
idenc}^  of  the  United  States."  He  asserted:  "  No 
device  or  expedient  could  ever  be  accepted  by  me 
as  a  substitute  for  this  prerogative,"  and  there- 
fore resigned  from  the  ticket.  His  name  was  re- 
tained on  the  ticket,  however,  the  letter  of  resig- 
nation having  been  held  long  enough  to  permit 
the  legal  limit  of  withdrawal  to  pass. 

This  act  fully  justified  the  charge  of  the  Re- 
publicans that  a  vote  for  Weaver  was  a  vote  for 
Cleveland,  as  the  Democrats  who  advised  it  sus- 
tained the  move  on  this  ground  alone.  While  the 
News  stigmatized  it  as  a  trick,  there  are  the  best  of 
reasons  for  the  belief  that  Populist  leaders  were 
fully  advised  on  ithe  matter,  and  were  satisfied,  as 
it  rendered  absolutely  certain  what  was  reasona- 
bly sure  before.  The  straight  Democrats,  by  this 
act  justified  the  position  taken  by  Messrs.  Patter- 
son and  Thomas  at  the  outset  of  the  campaign. 


198  THE  END  JUSTIFIED  THE  MEANS. 

Perhaps  as  scandalous  a  feature  of  the  cam- 
paign as  any  of  the  many  that  were  sprung,  was 
the  effort  to  make  it  appear  that  Mr.  Coe,  Repub- 
lican candidate  for  congress  from  the  first  dis- 
trict, had  been  concerned  in  questionable  trans- 
actions in  Omaha,  prior  to  his  removal  to  Denver. 
The  charge  was  given  the  widest  possible  circu- 
lation, and  though  promptly  and  complete!}'  re- 
futed was  reiterated,  and  doubtless  had  the  in- 
tended effect. 

Just  before  the  close  of  the  campaign  the  let- 
ter of  Mr.  Carlile,  written  several  days  previous- 
ly, resigning  from  the  Democratic  electoral  tick- 
et, was  given  to  the  public.  Mr.  Carlile  said:  "I 
am  guided  solely  by  a  desire  to  aid  the  Demo- 
cratic national  ticket  of  Cleveland  and  Stephen- 
son."  That  this  was  the  policy  of  the  Democrat- 
ic national  committee  was  clearl}r  shown  by  the 
like  move  in  Oregon,  but  in  this  state  it  was  com- 
plicated with  local  considerations.  There  was 
not  a  Democratic  leader  in  the  state  who  would 
have  voted  for  Weaver  had  there  been  the  remot- 
est possibility  of  his  election,  and  most  of  them 
said  so,  but  the  deal  was  made  at  so  late  a  date 
that  its  effect  upon  the  Democratic  vote  could  not 
be  overcome,  and  the  Republican  part}^  stood 
alone,  battling  with  the  aggregation  called  the 
Populist  party,  reinforced  by  Republicans  angr}r 
at  the  treatment  of  silver  by  their  own  part}7, 
Democrats  feeling  in  the  same  way  who  repudi- 
ated Cleveland,  the  regular  Democratic  organiza- 
tion, avowedly  voting  for  Weaver  in  order  to  help 
Cleveland,  and  the  horde  of  that  class  of  voters 


THE  DEMOCRATIC  MISTAKE  199 

whose  only  aim  is  to  be  on  the  winning  side  in 
the  hope  of  picking1  up  some  political  crumbs. 
Political  speculations,  after  the  event,  are  of 
little  practical  value,  the  changes  of  situation 
being  so  rapid  and  constant,  but  the  result  of  the 
campaign  of  1892  might  have  been  so  much  more 
disastrous  to  the  Republican  party,  that  a  few  re- 
flections will  be  pardoned.  Had  Mr.  Patterson's 
advice  been  heeded;  had  he  been  able  to  consoli- 
date the  opposition  to  the  Republican  party;  had 
he  been  able  to  secure  the  nomination  for  govern- 
or of  a  man  who  commanded  the  respect  of  the 
people,  and  whose  administration  was  character- 
ized b}^  conservatism,  due  regard  for  law,  and  a 
desire  to  serve  the  people  based  upon  higher 
ground  than  the  individual  whim  of  the  moment, 
the  probabilities  are  that  the  future  of  the  Re- 
publican party  would  have  been  exceedingly 
glooni}^.  The  organization  of  the  Populist  party 
was  ephemeral  in  character  and  the  Democrats, 
for  obvious  reasons,  would  have  had  the  strong- 
est hold  upon  the  giatitucle  of  its  members  when 
the  inevitable  disintegration  came.  In  such  an 
event  Democratic  supremacy  in  Colorado  might 
have  lasted  for  years.  But  the  Populists  were 
crazed  with  the  display  of  political  unrest  of 
which  they  expected  to  reap  the  fruits.  They  en- 
tirely failed  to  grasp  the  fact  that  their  only 
hope  of  success  lay  in  influences  outside  of  their 
organization,  and  the  result  was  an  arrogance  of 
presumed  power  which  led  them  to  reject  advice, 
to  insist  upon  their  own  terms,  and  to  fly  in  the 
face  of  enlightened  public  sentiment.  Their 


200  REPUBLICANS  DEFEATED 

governor  finished  the  work  so  well  begun  b}-  the 
folly  of  his  followers,  and  disgusted  the  people 
to  such  a  degree  that  all  the  advantages  of  a 
sweeping  victory  were  insufficient  to  enable  the 
part}^  to  retain  its  hold  upon  the  state. 

Arapahoe  count}^  gave  a  majority  of  about 
400  for  the  Weaver  electors,  but  gave  Republican 
pluralities  for  the  state,  county  and  legislative 
tickets,  except  in  the  cases  of  one  senator  and  two 
representatives. 

The  Weaver  ticket  carried  the  state  by  14,964; 
Governor  Waite  received  4527  plurality;  Pence 
carried  the  first  congressional  district  by  2395 
plurality;  Bell  carried  the  second  congressional 
district  by  12,005  pluralit}7,  and  the  legislature 
stood  15  Republicans,  13  Populists,  and  7  Demo" 
crats  in  the  senate,  and  33  Republicans  and  32 
Populists  and  Democrats  in  the  house. 

This  result  was  unexpected  to  all  parties.  The 
Republicans  had  conceded  the  election  of  the 
Populist  ticket  several  days  before  the  election, 
but  it  was  not  anticipated  that  the  pluralities 
would  be  so  large.  It  was  believed  that  the  drain 
would  be  mainly  from  the  Democratic  party,  but 
the  result  showed  tnat  Republican  defections 
were  much  larger  than  had  been  expected,  owing 
to  various  causes,  one  of  the  principal  being  the 
efforts  made  by  Senators  Teller  and  Wolcott  to 
prevent  the  sending  of  a  Harrison  delegation  to 
the  Republican  national  convention.  Both  sena- 
tors were  strongly  opiposed  to  Harrison  on  ac- 
count of  his  attitude  on  the  silver  question,  and 
put  forth  strenuous  efferts  to  secure  a  delegation 


SOME  OF  THE  CAUvSES  201 

opposed  to  his  renomination.  In  this  the}r  were 
successful,  but  in  carrying  their  point  they  were 
led  to  make  assertions,  which,  while  fully  war- 
ranted by  their  experience  with  the  administra- 
tion, were  used  against  the  ticket  \vith  telling  ef- 
fect during  the  campaign.  The  utterances  of 
Mr,  Teller  were  quoted  daily  by  the  Populist 
press,  and  were  printed  on  posters  and  scattered 
broadcast  throughout  the  state.  The  people  of 
Colorado  were  naturally  extremely  sensitive  up- 
on the  silver  question,  and  thousands  of  Repub- 
licans were  undoubtedly  influenced  to  oppose 
Mr.  Harrison's  election  by  the  statements  made 
by  the  two  senators  when  they  hoped  to  defeat 
his  renomination.  The  Republicans  who  had 
been  told  that  Mr.  Harrison  was  opposed  to  the 
remonetization  of  silver  could  not  see  why  they 
should  vote  for  a  man' who  the}1"' believed  would 
use  his  executive  power  to  rivet  the  chains  of 
gold  monometallism  upon  their  business  inter- 
ests. 

That  the  state  ticket  also  suffered  from  this 
cause  cannot  be  doubted,  though  the  main  rea- 
son for  its  defeat  was  the  defection  due  to  treach- 
ery  heretofore  mentioned.  It  is  unnecessary  to 
go  into  details,  as  no  good  results  will  follow, 
but  the  fact  is  indisputable  that  the  campaign  of 
1892  left  seeds  of  bitterness  that  are  not  unlikely 
to  come  up  in  the  future  to  vex  the  responsible 
parties. 

The  Republicans  were  defeated  and  accepted 
the  situation  as  gracefully  as  possible,  settling- 
down  to  the  somewhat  remarkable  position  of  an 


202  SOME  OF  THE  CAUSEvS 

entire  administration  in  the  hands  of  a  party 
which  before  the  election  had  been  considered  a 
proper  subject  for  sneers  and  derision. 

That  the  Denver  News  was  the  most  potent  fac- 
tor in  the  election  of  the  Populist  ticket  is  beyond 
question.  Had  that  paper  remained  with  the 
Democratic  party  and  supported  the  Cleveland 
electors  there  is  not  the  slightest  reason  for 
doubting1  that  the  Republican  ticket  would  have 
been  elected  hy  a  decreased  plurality.  The  Pop- 
ulist party  derived  its  strength  in  the  main  from 
the  two  old  parties;  of  itself  it  presented  an  un- 
important figure,  and  while  man}r  Republicans 
and  Democrats  would  have  voted  for  the  Popu- 
list ticket  in  any  event,  it  would  never  have  at- 
tained a  commanding  position  had  not  the  defec- 
tion of  a  great  paper  like  the  News  added  to  their 
strength  a  majority  of  the  Democratic  party.  Mr. 
Patterson  was,  in  many  sections  of  the  state,  par- 
ticular^ in  the  mountain  counties,  exceeding^' 
popular  with  the  rank  and  file  of  his  party,  and 
his  earnest  advocacy  of  the  Populist  ticket  drew 
thousands  of  Democrats  awa3r  from  their  alle- 
giance. From  the  time  that  the  News  bolted  the 
Democratic  nomination  there  was  a  rush  to  get 
in  which  precluded  the  possibility  of  Republican 
success.  The  Populist  leaders  seem  never  to 
have  appreciated  the  fact,  but  they'owe  Mr.  Pat- 
terson and  the  News  more  than  the}r  are  ever  like- 
ly to  be  able  to  pay.  The  difference  between  the 
plurality  given  for  Waite,  and  that  given  for  the 
Weaver  electors  may  be  fairly  accounted  for  by 
the  withdrawal  of  the  Cleveland  electors  in  favor 


NINTH  GENERAL    ASSEMBLY  203 

of  their  allies  upon  the  Weaver  electoral  ticket. 
Upon  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  an  effort 
was  made  by  the  Populists  and  Democrats  to  con- 
trol both  houses.  In  the  lower  house  it  was  an 
absolute  failure,  the  33  Republicans  standing 
firml3r  throughout  the  session.  In  the  senate,  for 
several  days  there  was  a  deadlock,  the  Democrats 
refusing  to  combine  with  the  Populists  until  an 
agreement  had  been  reached  to  divide  the  ap- 
pointive offices  between  the  7  Democrats  and  the 
13  Populists.  During  the  entire  session,  on  most 
of  the  important  offices  the  Democrats  and  Pop- 
ulists voted  together.  The  most  important  mea- 
sure of  the  session  was  the  revision  of  the  elec- 
tion laws,  skilfully  carried  through  })y  the  Re- 
publicans. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1892. 

PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTORS. 

D.  H.  Moffat 88,620    J.  C.  Higley 53,584 

6.  H.  Eaton 38,226    J.  G.  Berry 52,867 

J.  \V.  Hanna 38,176    A.  J.  Overholt :)2,8«) 

Thomas  M.  Bowcn 38,113    Silas  Hanchett 52,677 

FIFTY-THIRD  CONGRESS. 

1st  Dist.  —Earl  B.  Coe 17,609    Lafe  Pence 20.004 

2d      "      —II.  H.Eddy 19,572    John  C.  Bell 31,5*7 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— J.  C.  Helm 38,806    Davis  H.  Waito 44.242 

Lt-Gov.    -J.  M.  Downing 38,692    D,  H.  Nichols 4:5,M5 

S,«ey  Si'e— E.  J.  Eaton 38,819    N.  O.  McClees 43,565 

Treas.       — H.  E.  Mulnix t . .  . . 39,0  W    Albert  Nance 43,385 

Auditor  —Harry  Tarbell 38,929    F.  M.  Goody koontz .  .43,564 

AtLy  Gen— C.  S.  Libby 38,1>0    E.  Engley 41/.M3 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

— C.  B.  Timberlako 37,608    J.  F.  Murray 42,685 

Regents  of  the  University 

— E.  J.  Temple 38,355    D.  M .  Richards  .....  43,632 

— W.  E.  Knapp..... 38,279    W.E.Anderson 43,452 

Governor— J.  H.  Maupiu 8944    Atty-Gen.— H.  N.  Zook 8J 35 

Lt-Gov.    —  W.  M.  McMechin.,8123    Sup't  of  Schools 

Sec'y  St'e— C.  P.  Noland 8025  — N ,  B.  ( 'oy 961 S 

Auditor   —  John  K.  Kncx 8182    Regents  — H.  V.  Johnson. ..sjv1, 

Treas.      —W.  B.  Hamilton... 7894  —Lee  Champion. ..8077 

JUDICIARY. 

Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 

—George  W.  Allen* 37,414    L.  M.  Goddard 52,998 

— J.  C.Helmf 40,417    L.  M.  Goddard 30,861 

District  Judges.    General  election  of  1891. 

2d  Dist.— J.  A.  BentleyJ: 10,954    R.  T.  McNeal 697,, 

— D.  V.  Burns...., 10,74'J    S.E.Browne 670 

10th"          J.  C.  Elwell 3347     B.  F.  McDaniel 2411 

*To  fill  vacancy  caused  by  resignation  of  J.  C.  Helm. 
rElected  at  general  election  of  1891. 
JTo  fill  a  vacancy. 


OFFICIAL   VOTE  1892— CONTINUED 


205 


Hth  "       —  S.  P.  Dale        ..     .  . 

.2317    M.  S.  Bailey.     ..  . 

.  .  2602 

12th'1       -C.  C.  Holbrook  
13th  "       —  Chas  L    Allen 

..2660    R.H.Jones.  ,,.. 

860     Jam  AS  Glvnn 

..1189 
862 

District  Attorneys.    General  election  of  1891. 
1st  Dist.  —  Wm.  A.  Dier  2-821    J.  A.  Van  Auken  .  .  .  . 
2d       "       —  R.  W.Steele.                          9735     T>.  H.  Leonard 

.  .  2468 
..7674 
..3081 
..2324 
.  .  2978 
1215 

3d      "      _j.  A.  J.  Valdez 

.  2869    Orlando  Hitt 

4th    "      —John  Cochran  
5th    "      —  Thomas  Dickson  
6th    "     --N    C.  Miller 

...2654    E.  T.  Hanna  
....1926    Wm.  Kellog^  
1534    T.  J.  Tarsney 

7th    "     —  Thomas  J.  Black 

.3183    John  Gray 

86f>7 

8th    "     —  James  E.  Garrigues..  . 
9th    "      —  Geo.  D.  Johnstons. 

.  ..4281    No  opposition. 
2310    W.  J  Bartley 

...1722 

..2498 
..2117 
.     997 
.  756 

10th  "     —  L.  B.Gibson 

..3200    Wm.  P.  Beck 

llth"     —  V.  G.  Holliday  

...2600    W.  J.  Schoolfield 

12th  "      —  Chas.  O.  Merriman  
13th  "     —  Granville  Peiidleton.. 

.2237    J.  W.  Hamm  
..1146    Quitman  Brown  

NINTH  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

SENATE. 

idcnt  pro  tern.  C.  Barela.         Secretary— W.  R.  Kennedy 
llth  Dist.— B.  Clark  Wheeler 


-Pres 
1st  Dist.— Amos  Steck 

—A.  B.  McKinley  12th 

— W.  B.  Felker  13th 

—Chas.  Hartzell  14th 

— H.  Armstrong  15th 

-DeWitt  C.  Webber  16th 

2d     "     —James  F.  Drake  17th 

—Frank  Pryor  18th 

3d      "     — M.  A.  Leddy  19th 

—A.  A.  McGovney  20th 

4th    "     —Casimero  Barela  21st 

5th    "     — Fred  Lockwood  22d 

6th    "     —A.  F.  Howes  23d 

7th    "     —David  Boyd  24th 

8th    "     — H.  R.  Brown  25th 

9th    "      — J.  G.  Johnson  26th 

10th  "     —A.  T.  Gunnell  27th 

— John  King 


— R.  Turner      - 
— C.  C.  Graham 
— Geo.  E.  Pease 
— C.  Timmons 
— J.  A.  Israel 
— H.  S.  Balsinger 
— F.  W.  Smith 
— C.  Newman 
—A.  Walters 
-D.  A.  Mills 
-E.  W.  Meriitt 
-G.  W.  Swink 
— Wm.  H.  Adams 
— Jos.  H.  Painter 
— B.  L.  Smith 
-L.  N.  White 


206 


NINTH   GENERAL  ASSEMBLY 


HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES. 


Speaker — E.  M.  Ammons. 

Arapahoe     — A.  C.  Anderson 
— J.  G.  Brown 
— R.  VV.  Bonynge 
— J.  S.  Babeock 
— W.  F.  Cannon 
— J.  P.  Heisler 
— R.  F.  Hunter 
—A.  E.  Bromley 
— J.  A.  Kilton 
-E  W.  Norlin 
— Chas,  Roth 
— H.  E.  Sims 
— Wm.  F.  Hynes 

Boulder  — E.  J.  Coffman 
--A.  S.  Baldwin 
— G.  H.  Young 

Chatfee        — W.  J.  Dean 

Clear  Creek— R.  Newman 

Conejos        — C.  Garcia 

('one jos  and  Archuleta 
— D.  F.  How 

Costilla        — M.  A.  Sanchez 

Ouster          — F.  F.  Putnam 

Dolores  and  Montezuma 
—P.  J.  Lynch 

Douglas       — E.  M.  Ammons 

Eagle  — Geo.  W.  Jenks 

Elbert  and  Lincoln 

—Theodore  S.  Harper 

El  Paso  — M.  M.  Baldwin 
— J.  E.  Reynolds 
— A.  L,  Humphrey 

Fremont       — D.  Crow 

Fremont  and  Chaffee 

-Thos.  S.  Wells 

Garfield       — H.  W.  Hallett 

Gilpin          — W.  J.  Thomas 

Grand  and  Summit 

— C.  L.  Westerman 


Clerk-J.  R.  Wallingford. 
Gunnison  — S.  W.  Gill 
Hinsdale  -C.  H.  Bent 
Huerfano  — R.  R.  Ross 
Jefferson  — C.  W.  Dake 
Kiowa,  Baca  and  Prowers 

— J.  C.Funderburgh 
Kit  Carson  and  Cheyenne 

— T.  G.  Price 
Lake  —Hugh  Dyatt 

— W.  T.  Booth 
La  Plata     — S.  E.  Herr 
Larimer       — A  Donath 
Las  Animas— Bo  Sweeney 

— H.  F.  Moore 
Las  Animas  and  Bent 

— R.  L.  Wootton 
Logan,  Sedgwick,  and  Phillips 

— J.  S.  Carnahan 
Mesa  --M,  V.  B.  Page 

Montrose  and  Delta 

— J.  T.  Heath 

Otero  —  J.  H.  Crowley 

Ouray  — F.  Carney 

Park  -J.  M.  Fritz 

Pitkin  — R.  A.  McKnight 

Pueblo         —A.  W.  Lennard 

— W.  C.  Slawson 

— Platt  Wicks 

— John  R.  Gordon 
Rio  Grande— J.  M.  Cochran 
Routt  and  Rio  Blanco 

-J.  W.  Lowell 
Saguache    — J.  L.  Hurt 
San  Miguel— S.  R.  Fitzgarrald 
Weld  -C.  C.  Calkins 

— E.  H.  Benton 
Yuma,  Morgan  &  Washington 

H.W.Twombly 


WHILK  there  was  no  general  state  elec. 
tion  in  1893,  that  year,  from  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  legislature  until  the  open- 
ing- of  the  campaign  of  1894,  was  so  prolific  of 
startling  political  incidents,  necessarily  having 
an  important  bearing  upon  the  political  situa- 
tion, and  the  future  political  complexion  of  the 
state,  that  this  work  would  be  incomplete  with- 
out such  an  account  of  these  incidents  as  will 
give  the  reader  a  proper  understanding  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  the  close  of  the  Populist 
administration. 

Governor  Waite  was  mistrusted  from  the  very 
outset  of  his  administration.  Many  of  his  utter- 
ances during  the  progress  of  the  canvass  were 
of  such  a  character  that  grave  doubts  had  arisen 
as  to  his  ability  to  administer  the  affairs  of  the 
state  in  such  a  manner  as  to  satisfy  the  people. 
The  constitution  of  Colorado  leaves  very  little 
to  the  governor  save  the  ordinary  official  routine, 
and  yet  occasions  may,  and  frequentty  do  arise, 
\vhen,  \vithout  violating  his  official  oath,  he  can 
make  the  constitution,  so  far  as  its  practical  ap- 
plication is  concerned,  a  thing  of  shreds  and 
patches,  dependent  for  good  upon  the  will  of  the 
executive.  The  fear  in  regard  to  Governor  Waite 
was  that  should  one  of  these  occasions  arise,  his 
evident  leaning  toward  the  communistic  ideas  of 
the  more  radical  Populists  would  influence  him 


208  WAITE  STARTS  FAIRLY 

to  the  detriment  of  the  commonwealth.  No  one 
questioned  his  honest}^  or  his  intention  to  do 
right.  The  only  question  was  whether  a  man 
holding-  the  views  that  he  had  so  frequently  ex^ 
pressed  conld  do  right  o*n  those  occasions  when 
the  law,  as  ordinarily  interpreted,  ran  counter  to 
his  convictions. 

During  the  first  few  months  of  his  administra- 
tion, he  was,  to  man}',  an  agreeable  surprise.  He 
seemed  to  proceed  with  caution,  and  his  appoint- 
ments were  such  that  if  the}'  could  not  be  hearti- 
ly endorsed  as  the  best  that  could  have  been 
made,  they  were  at  least  not  susceptible  of  seri- 
ous adverse  criticism  on  the  ground  of  the  previ- 
ous doubtful  record  of  the  appointees.  Kvery- 
body  seemed  willing  to  give  the  governor  a  fair 
chance,  and  were  at  least  inclined  to  hope  that  he 
would  be  governed  by  an  earnest  desire  for  the 
benefit  of  the  whole  people,  rather  than  by  the 
clamors  for  position  of  the  horde  of  hungry  fol- 
lowers for  the  first  time  introduced  to  the  spoils 
of  political  warfare. 

That  his  course  was  closely  watched  goes 
without  sajnng.  In  his  inaugural  address  he 
made  a  number  of  recommendations  which 
seemed  to  indicate  a  tendency  on  his  part  to  mul- 
tiply offices,  and  a  leaning  toward  radical  chang- 
es in  the  political  system  of  the  state,  and  while 
what  is  old  is  not  always  what  is  best,  it  is  certain 
that  conservatism  is  one  of  the  leading  principles 
of  nearly  all  legislative  bodies,  in  which  few 
things  are  more  closely  scrutinized  than  attempt- 
ed changes  in  the  established  order.  Among- 


WAITERS  INAUGURAL  209 

other  thing's  he  recommended  the  appointment 
of  three  railway  commissioners,  whose  dut}'  it 
.should  be  to  determine  all  complaints,  and  that 
without  recourse  to  the  courts.  This  cut  off  the 
aggrieved  part}'  from  all  right  of  appeal,  and 
practically  made  the  board  superior  to  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  state.  He  also  recommended 
the  creation  of  a  land  bureau,  to  consist  of  three 
members,  who  would  be  called  upon  to  perform 
the  arduous  duties  now  performed  by  one  man. 
He  approved  of  the  employment  of  convict  labor 
in  the  construction  of  state  enterprises,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  this  ver}^  matter  had  been 
fought  against  for  j-ears  by  the  labor  organisa- 
tions of  the  state.  He  opposed  the  letting  of 
state  work  by  contract,  and  while  he  did  not  say 
how  it  should  be  done,  the  inference  is  plain 
that  he  favored  the  construction  or  conduct  of 
all  state  industrial  enterprises  that  could  not  be 
done  by  convict  labor,  by  the  employment  of  clay 
laborers,  to  be  paid  directly  by  the  state.  This 
was  undoubtedly  a  bid  for  the  labor  vote,  and 
was  in  strict  accord  with  the  paternal  govern- 
mental policy*  sought  to  be  inaugurated  by  the 
Populist  part}r,  and  therefore  should  have  caused 
no  surprise,  but  thoughtful  men  could  see  in 
these  recommendations  extravagance,  increased 
expense  to  the  state  government,  and  the  most 
dangerous  kind  of  demagoguei^,  and  viewed 
with  something  like  fear  the  attitude  of  the  exec- 
utive. As  Governor  Waite  has  frequently  claimed 
that  woman  suffrage  is  the  result  of  the  recom- 


210  WAITE'S  APPOINTMENTS 

mendation  in  his  inaugural  message,  it  is,  per- 
haps, as  well  to  quote  his  exact  language: 

"About  eight  3rears  ago  a  law  was  passed  giv- 
ing to  the  women  of  Colorado  the  right  to  vote  at 
school  district  elections,  and  inasmuch  as  since 
that  time  the  heavens  have  not  fallen,  and  Ihe  ef- 
ficiency of  the  public  schools  has  been  greatly 
improved,  I  recommend  a  law  extending  to  the 
women  of  Colorado  the  right  of  suffrage  in  all 
municipal  elections." 

The  flippant  manner  in  \\hich  the  subject  is 
taken  up,  and  the  brief  reference  to  a  question 
which  was  deserving  of  something  more  than  a 
curt  introduction  and  dismissal,  afford  reason 
for  the  belief  that  Governor  Waite  had  not  given 
the  subject  special  attention,  was  entirel}T  indif- 
ferent to  its  claims  for  consideration,  and  in- 
troduced the  paragraph  merely  as  a  makeweight, 
probabl}"  at  the  suggestion  of  a  suffragist  friend. 
To  suppose  that  Colorado  would  change  its  en- 
tire system  of  elections  on  account  of  such  a  re- 
commendation, flung  into  the  message  like  a 
bone  to  a  dog,  is  to  give  very  little  credit  to  the 
thoughtful  intelligence  of  the  people  of  the  state 

The  appointment  of  the  fire  and  police  board, 
and  of  the  board  of  public  works  of  the  city  of 
Denver,  were  justly  regarded  as  among  the  most 
important  to  be  made  by  the  governor,  and  con- 
sequently the  most  earnest  efforts  were  made  to 
induce  the  governor  to  appoint  only  such  men  as 
would,  by  a  calm,  judicious,  non-partisan  course, 
best  conserve  the  interests  of  the  principal  city 
and  the  most  important  political  factor  of  Colo- 


FIRE  AND  POLICE  BOARD  211 

rado.  Pressure  was  brought  to  bear  upon  Gov- 
ernor Waite  from  every  direction.  He  listened  to 
all  who  came,  courteous^'  received  the  sugges- 
tions offered,  but  preserved  a  sphinx-like  silence, 
and  declined  to  commit  himself  in  any  way. 
Xuch  was  hoped  for  from  this  attitude,  and  his 
apparent  deliberation  in  making  these  appoint- 
ments gave  reason  for  the  opinion  that  notwith- 
standing his  radical  speeches  during  the  can- 
.  vass,  now  that  he  was  governor  of  the  state  he 
would  onl}T  consider  the  welfare  of  the  people 
and  the  great  responsibility  attached  to  his  office. 
On  Februar3r  3  he  sent  to  the  senate  the  names 
of  D.  J.  Martin,  C.  B.  Stone  and  Geo.  H.  Phelps  us 
members  of  the  fire  and  police  board,  and  A.  C. 
Harris, L.H.  Flanders, andT.B.  Buchanan  as  mem- 
bers of  the  board  of  public  works.  The  appoint 
ments  were  somewhat  of  a  disappointment. 
Nothing-  could  be  urged  against  any  of  the  gen- 
tlemen personally,  but  it  was  considered  that  he 
could  have  selected  men  much  better  acquainted 
with  the  management  of  public  affairs.  Still  it 
was  something-  that  the  men  were  respectable 
and  conservative,  and  the  best  was  hoped  for 
from  the  new  boards.  They  were  promptly  con- 
firmed and  took  their  seats.  The  police  of  Den- 
ver had  been  greatly  improved  during  the  previ- 
ous two  years,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  chief, 
Mr.  Farley,  would  be  retained.  The  pressure  up- 
on the  police  board,  however,  by  the  throng  of 
anxious  Populists  out  of  employment  was  more 
than  they  could  withstand,  and  Farley  was  re- 
moved, his  successor  being  J.  C.  Veatch.  This 


212  DENVER   MUNICIPAL  AFFAIRS 

was  a  surprise,  as  Veatch  was  a  Republican.  He 
was  an  old  resident  of  Denver,  and  while  not  fa- 
miliar with  the  duties  of  a  police  officer,  was 
honest  and  capable,  and  the  people  of  Denver 
consoled  themselves  with  the  fact  that  it  might 
have  been  very  much  worse.  It  was  given  out 
that  the  board  would  insist  upon  the  conduct  of 
the  force  upon  a  purely  non-partisan  basis,  and 
if  this  was  done,  and  the  laws  were  property  en- 
forced, there  was  no  reason  for  complaint. 

The  administration  of  affairs  went  on  as 
was  expected,  and  the  criticisms  thereon  were  in 
the  main  confined  to  those  who  had  failed  in  the 
effort  to  have  their  superlative  merits  recog'nized 
by  the  receipt  of  political  positions,  until  the  city 
election.  It  was  then  seen  that  the  infant  party  ^ 
so  unexpectedly  entrusted  with  the  conduct  of 
affairs,  felt  strong1  enough  to  walk  alone.  Upon 
the  assembling  of  the  Populist  city  convention, 
T.  M.  Patterson  appeared  as  a  messenger  from 
the  Democratic  convention,  also  in  session,  to 
suggest  a  fusion  of  the  two  parties  on  a  local 
ticket.  The  Populists,  however,  feeling  that  they 
were  able  to  take  care  of  themselves,  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  kick  awa}T  the  ladder  by  which  they  had 
ascended  to  power,  declined  the  proposition,  and 
nominated  a  full  ticket,  with  Jackson  Orr  as  the 
candidate  for  mayor.  The  Democrats  nominated 
John  D.  McGilvray,  and  the  Republicans  M.  D. 
Van  Horn.  The  election  resulted  in  a  Republi- 
can victory,  Van  Horn  receiving  7355  votes  to  5990 
for  McGilvray,  and  2397  for  Orr.  Again  the  wis- 
dom of  Mr.  Patterson's  advice  had  been  demon- 


THE  FIRST    BREAK  213 

strated.  This  result  definitely  settled  the  status 
of  the  Populist  party  in  Denver. 

The  echoes  of  the  city  election  had  hardly  giv- 
en place  to  the  ordinary  hum  of  business,  before 
were  heard  the  mutterings  of  a  coming-  storm  in 
Populist  circles.  An  incident  occurred  which 
revived  all  the  feelings  of  distrust  regarding  the 
probabilities  of  a  healthy  administration  of  af- 
fairs, and  from  that  time  till  the  close  of  Waite's 
administration  one  event  followed  upon  the  heels 
of  another  with  such  startling  rapidity  that  the 
average  citizen  eagerly  scanned  the  papers  in  the 
morning  to  learn  what  new  move  upon  the  polit- 
ical chess  board  had  been  developed  during  the 
night,  by  the  inefficient  officer  at  the  helm  of  the 
ship  of  state. 

One  C.  A.  Coryell,  it  was  charged,  had,  with 
the  thrift  born  of  necessity,  collected  money  from 
the  gamblers  of  Denver,  by  representing  himself 
as  the  agent  of  the  police  board,  conveying  the 
impression  that  the  money  was  to  be  paid  to  the 
board,  and  would  result  in  giving  the  gambling 
houses  police  protection.  Some  of  the  gamblers 
reported  these  facts  to  the  board,  and  the  matter 
was  discussed  to  some  extent,  but  no  action  was 
taken,  though  Commissioner  Martin  insisted  that 
something  should  be  done  toward  bringing  Co- 
ryell  to  punishment.  Finally  the  board  referred 
the  matter  to  the  grand  jury.  Meantime  the  gov- 
ernor had  heard  of  the  affair,  and  conceiving  the 
idea  that  it  was  a  serious  reflection  upon  his  ad- 
ministration, demanded  an  explanation.  The  ex- 
planation was  made  but  failed  to  satisfy  his  ex- 


214  POLICE   BOARD  REMOVED 

cellenc}r,  who  directed  Messrs.  Stone  and  Phelps 
to  appear  before  him  to  answer  the  charge  of 
neglect  of  duty.  The  commissioners  appeared 
before  the  governor,  who  enacted  the  role  of 
judge,  and  while  it  was  clearl}'  shown  that  they 
were  in  no  way  responsible  for  the  acts  of  Corj'ell, 
and  had  not  profited  thereb}',  it  was  developed 
that  since  the  matter  had  been  made  public  the 
accused  had  held  two  interviews  with  Chief 
Veatch,  which  was  held  to  be  sufficient  cause  for 
the  removal  of  the  commissioners  as  well  as  the 
chief  of  police.  Accordingly,  on  June  17  an  or- 
der for  their  removal  was  issued  by  the  governor, 
and  Jackson  Orr,  late  Populist  candidate  for  may- 
or of  Denver,  and  A.  J.  Rogers,  a  recent  importa- 
tion from  New  Jersey,  and  father  of  Platt  Rogers, 
the  late  ma3ror  of  Denver,  were  appointed  to  the 
vacancies. 

But  Stone  and  Phelps  insisted  that  no  vacan- 
cies existed  and  refused  to  vacate,  appealing  their 
case  to  the  courts.  Meantime  the  governor 
learned  that  Rogers  had  not  been  long  enough  in 
Colorado  to  hold  office,  and  on  June  22d  Geo.  W. 
Trimble  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 

The  city  officials  and  police  promptly  recog- 
nized the  new  board,  and  on  June  25th  Chief 
Veatch  was  suspended.  Stone  and  Phelps,  how- 
ever, still  continued  to  hold  the  office  and  papers 
of  the  board  pending  action  by  the  courts,  until 
June  27,  when  they  were  ejected  by  force  by  May- 
or Van  Horn  and  the  police.  Subsequently  the 
supreme  court  rendered  its  decision  to  the  effect 
that  the  governor  possessed  the  right  of  removal. 


EXTRA   SESSION  TALK  215 

While  this  little  tempest  in  a  tea-pot  was  occu- 
pying- the  attention  of  the  governor  and  the  Pop- 
ulist  fraternity,  events  of  much  more  startling 
importance  to  Colorado  and  the  countrj^  general- 
ly,  were  transpiring  in  the  far  east.  On  the  26th 
of  June  India  closed  her  mints  to  the  coinage  of 
silver.  On  the  28th  Ed.  R.  Holden,  in  response  to 
an  inquirj-,  wired  to  the  east  a  statement  that  150,- 
(XX)  men  in  Colorado  would  be  out  of  employ- 
ment within  sixty  days.  On  the  17th  of  June  bar 
silver  was  quoted  at  83  cents  an  ounce;  on  June 
30  it  had  declined  to  62  cents  an  ounce,  and  on  the 
29th  of  June  the  leading-  miners  and  smelters  of 
Colorado  held  a  meeting  at  which  it  was  resolved 
to  close  down  the  mines  and  smelters  until  such 
time  as  the  silver  industry  could  be  conducted  at 
a  profit.  The  entire  state  was  in  a  whiil  of  excite- 
ment, and  immediatel}7  the  suggestion  came  from 
scores  of  people  for  an  extra  session  of  the  legis- 
lature. The  Denver  chamber  of  commerce  and 
the  Denver  real  estate  exchange  held  meetings 
at  which  the  extra  session  was  the  prevailing 
topic  of  discussion.  The  governor  was  besieged 
with  deputations,  some  urging  and  others  oppos- 
ing an  extra  session  for  the  purpose  of  pass- 
ing a  stay  law.  As  the  initial  excitement  cooled 
down  the  common  sense  of  the  people  began  to 
assert  itself,  and  it  was  found  that  the  prevailing 
sentiment  was  very  strongly  against  an  extra 
session.  Accordingly,  on  July  2,  after  several 
days'  consideration  of  the  matter,  the  governor 
announced  that  no  extra  session  would  be  called. 
A  mass  convention  of  the  people  of  the  state  waa 


216  "BLOOD  TO  THE  BRIDLES" 

held  in  Denver  on  Jul}'  11  and  12,  at  which  the  sit- 
uation was  thorough!}-  discussed,  Governor 
Waite,  K.  R.  Holden  and  others  giving-  expression 
to  such  revolutionary  sentiments  that  it  was 
found  necessar}r  for  leading  business  men  of 
Denver,  in  response  to  inquiries  from  the  east  to 
deny  that  there  was  an}r  disposition  on  the  part 
of  the  people  of  Colorado  to  repudiate  their  just 
debts.  Among  the  startling  utterances  of  the 
occasion  was  the  assertion  by  the  governor  that 
"it is  better,  infinitely  better,  that  blood  should 
flow  to  the  horses'  bridles  rather  than  our  nation- 
al liberties  should  be  destroj^ed."  The  words  were 
uttered  with  no  other  purpose  than  a  rhetor- 
ical display,  but  as  there  was  no  pressing  dan- 
ger of  a  destruction  of  the  nation's  liberties,  the 
necessity  for  their  utterance  was  lacking.  They 
were  the  conclusion  of  so  many  intemperate  and 
threatening  remarks  that  they  were  telegraphed 
far  and  wide  as  containing  a  threat  of  revolution, 
and  caused  no  end  of  ridicule  of  Colorado  and 
her  chief  executive.  The  remarks,  of  the  govern- 
or were  endorsed  by  an  excited  meeting,  one-half 
of  those  present  not  having  understood  the  drift 
of  the  objectionable  language,  and  for  the  mo- 
ment Governor  Waite  was  the  hero  of  the  hour, 
not  only  in  the  estimation  of  his  admirers,  but  of 
himself. 

On  July  17  the  first  financial  effect  of  the  panic 
was  felt  in  Colorado,  by  the  supension  of  three 
savings  banks.  These  banks  had  been  subjected 
to  a  run  for  several  da}rs,  on  account  of  the  unfa- 
vorable news  from  the  east,  and  had  put  in  force 


THE  FINANCIAL  CRAvSH  217 

the  rule  requiring-  sixty  clays'  notice  of  withdrawal 
of  deposits, but  this  did  not  give  them  the  necessa- 
ry relief  and  they  were  compelled  to  close  their 
doors.  While  these  suspensions  occasioned 
grave  anxiet}7,  they  were  not  seriously  felt  at  first, 
but  the  anxiety  was  gradually  increased,  and  nat- 
urally the  condition  was  attributed  to  the  con- 
stant pressure  upon  silver,  and  when,  on  the  fol- 
lowing- day  three  national  banks  and  three  pri- 
vate banks  were  forced  to  suspend  pa)rment,  eve- 
ry business  institution  in  Denver  felt  the  press 
ure,  which  was  intensified  on  the  19th  b}r  the 
closing-  of  three  more  national  banks.  In  three 
days  twelve  banks  had  closed,  and  the  people  be- 
gan to  think  that  the  time  for  general  liquidation 
had  arrived,  a  general  lack  of  confidence  pervad- 
ing all  classes  of  business  life.  Several  business 
firms  of  magnitude  suspended,  and  hosts  of  mi- 
nor establishments  gave  up  the  struggle  in  de- 
spair. 

The  feeling-  of  dismay  was  accentuated  by  the 
efforts  of  the  administration  to  obtain  the  con- 
sent of  the  people  to  the  repeal  of  the  purchas- 
ing- clause  of  the  Sherman  act  at  the  extra  ses- 
sion to  be  convened  in  August.  When  a  deep- 
seated  impression  prevails  that  distress  will  fol- 
low any  particular  line  of  governmental  policy 
and  distress  comes,  the  result  is  a  natural  indig- 
nation, and  this  was  the  feeling  throughout  Col- 
orado, causing-  a  revival  of  the  demand  for  an  ex- 
tra session  to  consider  measures  for  the  relief  of 
the  people.  Governor  Waite,  however,  had  other 
matters  of  importance  to  attend  to,  in  the  settle- 


218  AN  ARMY   OF  UNEMPLOYED 

nient  of  the  quarrels  among  his  followers,  result- 
ing from  the  struggles  for  appointment  to  politi- 
cal positions,  and  quietly  ignored  the  demands 
for  an  extra  session  until  he  should  have  perfect- 
ed his  plans. 

The  panic  resulted  in  the  discharge  of  a  large 
number  of  men  in  the  state,  many  of  them  with- 
out means,  and  by  the  end  of  Jul}^  the  army  of 
unemployed  men  that  drifted  into  Denver,  gave 
ground  for  serious  apprehension.  A  brutal  mur- 
der, followed  by  an  equally  brutal  HTnching  of 
the  murderer,  showed  the  citizens  of  Denver  the 
possibilities  of  the  continuance  in  the  city  of  so 
large  a  body  of  men  with  no  hope  for  the  future, 
and  unable  to  reach  their  friends  in  the  east,  and 
a  great  camp  was  established  under  militar}' 
rules,  where  thousands  were  fed  and  sheltered 
until  such  time  as  they  could  be  transported  to 
their  eastern  friends. 

All  of  these  scenes  of  distress,  violence  and 
disorder  were  taken  advantage  of  by  Populist  or- 
ators, who  saw  nothing  in  the  prevailing  condi- 
tion of  affairs  except  a  verification  of  the  alleged 
principles  of  the  Omaha  platform.  The  Populist 
attorney-general  of  Colorado,  in  response  to  an 
inquiry  from  Governor  Waite,  rendered  an  elabo- 
rate opinion,  in  which  he  took  the  ground  that  it 
was  within  the  province  of  the  state  legislature 
to  enact  appropriate  laws  for  the  establishment 
of  a  statutor3r  depository  of  silver  bullion  and 
the  issuance  of  certificates  of  deposit  thereon,  as- 
signable by  deliver}',  and  receivable  by  the  state 
in  pa3rment  of  taxes,  This  was  in  direct  line  with 


THE  FIGHT  FOR   SILVER  219 

the  proposition  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance  to  estab- 
lish government  warehouses  for  the  products  of 
the  soil  and  the  issuance  of  legal  tenders  there- 
on, and  was  received  with  enthusiasm  by  the  mid- 
dle-of-the-road Populists. 

On  August  7  the  extra  session  of  congress* 
convened,  and  one  of  the  most  gigantic  strug- 
gles in  the  history  of  the  country,  between  a 
small  but  compact  and  well  organized  body  of 
men,  backed  by  the  truths  of  histor}7  and  pres- 
ent experience,  and  led  by  Senator  Tellsr,  on  the 
one  side,  and  the  entire  force  of  the  administra- 
tion, backed  by  the  monopolies  and  money  power 
of  the  east,  on  the  other,  was  inaugurated. 

From  day  to  day  the  debate  was  followed  in 
Colorado  with  the  most  intense  interest,  and 
throughout  that  protracted  contest  the  argu- 
ments advanced  were  re-echoed  on  the  plains  and 
mountains  of  Colorado  and  in  the  streets  of  her 
cities,  the  Populists  neglecting  no  point  that  might 
have  the  effect  of  gaining  recruits,  and  being 
constantly  and  aggressively  in  evidence.  It  was 
a  foregone  conclusion  from  the  outset  that  the 
administration  would  win,  and  this  conceded  fact 
was  made  the  most  of  by  those  surrounding  the 
administration  of  Governor  Waite  in  their  efforts 
to  consolidate  and  permanently  fasten  their  par- 
ty upon  the  people  of  Colorado.  Populist  theo- 
ries of  government  ruled  the  roast  at  everj^  street- 
corner,  and  all  the  ills  of  life,  real  and  imaginary, 
were  attributed  to  the  folly  of  the  people  in  not 
theretofore  recognizing  the  hidden  beauties  of 
the  Omaha  platform  and  of  the  Populist  part}'. 


220  POPUIvIST  MANEUVERS 

Through  the  efforts  of  some  sensible  Populist 
leaders  of  Arapahoe  county,  a  fusion  was  effect- 
ed between  their  organization  and  the  Silver 
Democrats,  and  a  county  ticket  nominated  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  terms  of  the  agreement.  The 
Populist  convention  also  adopted  a  resolution 
asking  the  governor  to  call  an  extra  session  of 
the  legislature.  Governor  Waite,  who  had  been 
several  weeks  in  the  east,  returned  soon  after  the 
convention,  but  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  sug- 
gestion for  the  immediate  calling  of  the  legisla- 
ture. He  could  not  see  the  necessity  for  it,  and 
again  the  agitators  and  calamity  howlers  re- 
ceived a  set-back  at  the  hands  of  their  chosen 
Moses.  The  fact  is  that  the  local  leaders  per- 
suaded the  governor  that  after  the  county  elec- 
tions there  would  be  no  necessity  for  an  extra 
session;  that  the  Populist  party  would  then  have 
the  machinery  of  Arapahoe  county  and  a  num- 
ber of  others  throughout  the  state,  and  would 
not  be  compelled  to  secure  Populist  ammunition 
through  the  medium  of  an  extra  session.  He 
stated,  however,  that  in  the  event  of  the  repeal  of 
the  purchasing  clause  of  the  Sherman  act,  with- 
out the  enactment  of  a  satisfactory  substitute,  he 
would  call  the  legislature  together. 

When  the  Arapahoe  count}'  Republican  con- 
vention was  held,  trouble  arose.  The  primaries 
were  orderly,  well-conducted,  and  heartily  ap- 
proved by  the  majority  of  the  party.  But  the 
personnel  of  the  ticket  was  distasteful  to  the  Re- 
publican, and  that  paper  promptly  repudiated  the 
ticket  and  inaugurated  a  movement  for  the  nom_ 


SHERMAN    CLAUSE   REPEALED  221 

ination  of  a  citizens'  ticket.  This  effort  finally  cul- 
minated in  the  selection  of  a  ticket  which  was 
supposed  to  be  more  satisfactory  to  the  people 
and  taxpayers,  in  the  composition  of  which  both 
the  Republican  and  Populist  tickets  were  entire- 
ly ignored. 

The  question  of  woman  suffrage  came  before 
the  people  at  this  election,  the  ninth  general  as- 
sembl}^  having  passed  an  act  referring  this  mat- 
ter to  the  people,  so  that  this  election,  though 
only  for  county  officers,  was  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant ever  held  in  the  state.  The  election  in 
Arapahoe  county  was  sharply  contested, %  the 
usual  bitterness  of  family  quarrels  characteriz- 
ing the  campaign,  but  the  Republican  ticket  was 
elected,  with  five  tickets  in  the  field  against  it,  by 
pluralities  of  from  1200  to  4000,  electing  every 
man  on  the  ticket  with  the  exception  of  a  candi- 
date for  justice  of  the  peace.  Woman  suffrage 
was  approved  in  the  state  by  more  than  5000  ma- 
jority, and  a  new  element  in  politics,  from  which 
much  good  was  expected,  was  introduced. 

The  purchasing  clause  of  the  Sherman  law 
was  repealed  on  November  1,  and  this  fact  was 
seized  upon  by  the  advocates  of  an  extra  session 
of  the  legislature  as  a  reminder  to  the  governor 
of  his  declared  intention  to  call  the  legislature 
together  in  the  event  of  repeal.  As  the  governor 
freely  admitted  his  intention  to  call  the  session, 
protests  against  such  action  cornmencep  to  pour 
in  upon  him  from  all  parts  of  the  state,  while  the 
Populist  leaders  were  constant  in  their  efforts  to 
induce  a  speedy  meeting  of  the  legislature. 


WAITE   WANTS  A   STATE  MINT 

Toward  the  latter  end  of  November  Governor 
Waite,  in  discussing-  the  proposed  extra  session, 
and  the  relief  measures  to  be  suggested,  gave  ut- 
terance to  a  most  startling-  theor}^ — that  the  state 
possessed  the  right  to  coin  mone}^;  his  position 
being-  that  the  refusal  of  congress  to  coin  silver 
conferred  the  right  upon  the  states  to  coin  it 
for  themselves;  that  the  right  to  coin  money 
possessed  by  the  general  government  was  part 
of  the  contract  with  the  states,  and  a  breach 
of  contract  by  one  of  the  parties  thereto 
released  the  other  party  from  its  obligation. 
White  he  was  careful  not  to  say  that  he  would 
urge  the  taking  of  such  a  step,  he  plainly' showed 
his  belief  in  the  feasibility  of  the  propo- 
sition. Necessarily  his  suggestions  on  this  sub- 
ject provoked  the  most  widespread  comment  and 
afforded  opportunities  for  ridicule  that  were  not 
missed  by  the  eastern  opponents  of  free  coinage. 
Men  who  had  up  to  this  time  been  hopeful  of  the 
Populist  administration,  now  freely  admitted  the 
correctness  of  the  position  taken  by  Mr.  Patter- 
son at  the  time  of  Wake's  nomination—  that  he 
was  totally  unfit  for  the  office  to  which  he  had 
been  elected;  and  it  began  to  be  seriously  ques- 
tioned whether  there  was  not  some  way  in  which 
he  could  be  prevented  from  continually  "putting 
the  state  in  a  ridiculous  position  and  injuring  its 
credit  with  his  wild  financial  theories. 

But  Governor  Waite,  whatever  he  may  lack  in 
political  judgment  and  statesmanship,  is  a  man 
of  unquestioned  courage,  and  was  not  to  be 
frightened  away  from  his  pet  scheme  of  an  extra 


THE  MINERS'  CONVENTION  223 

session  by  an}^  demonstration  of  the  absurdity  of 
the  propositions  which  he  proposed  to  submit  to 
the  legislature.  He  varied  his  coinage  program 
by  taking  the  position  that  the  bullion  could  be 
sent  to  Mexico  for  coinage  and  Mexican  dollars 
made  a  legal  tender  in  Colorado,  in  face  of  the 
constitutional  provision  that  foreign  coins  can- 
not be  made  a  legal  tender  in  the  United  States. 
Finall3r,  on  November  22,  the  governor  issued  a 
circular  calling  upon  the  miners  of  twenty  of  the 
mining  camps  of  the  state  to  elect  delegates  to  a 
convention  to  be  held  at  Salida  on  December  6,  to 
consider  the  question  of  an  extra  session. 

Pending  the  meeting  of  this  convention  the 
fact  leaked  out  that  for  several  weeks  the  govern- 
or had  been  in  correspondence  with  President 
Diaz  of  the  Mexican  republic,  in  regard  to  the 
coinage  of  a  new  coin,  half  Mexican,  half  Colo- 
radan,  which  was  to  be  the  universal  panacea  for 
all  the  financial  ills  from  which  the  state  was  suf- 
fering. The  ridicule  excited  by  this  proposition 
would  have  been  overwhelming  to  any  other  man 
than  Waite,  but,  headed  off  in  one  direction,  he 
serenely  takes  another  tack,  and  setting  all  sails, 
resumes  his  chase  of  the  bubbles  of  prosperity 
produced  from  the  financial  vagaries  of  his  own 
mind.  He  next  proposed,  as  a  relief  to  the  labor- 
ing men  of  the  state,  the  immediate  construction 
of  State  canal  No.  1,  for  which  he  proposed  to  ask 
for  an  appropriation  of  $1,000,000.  Had  this  been 
feasible  it  would  have  been  of  great  benefit  to 
the  state,  but  the  law  authorizing  the  construc- 
tion of  the  canal  provided  that  it  should  be  paid 


224:  THE  PENITENTIARY   WAR 

for  in  certificates  of  indebtedness,  receivable  for 
water  rents  on^.  The  governor's  idea  was  that 
by  issuing-  these  certificates  in  small  denomina- 
tions the}^  would  pass  current  as  money.  The 
difficulties  in  the  governor's  plan  will  be  readily 
perceived. 

While  the  governor  was  waiting  for  his  Salida 
convention  he  was  b}^  no  means  idle.  Daniel 
Bruce  was  his  son-in-law,  and,  presumably  for  his 
eminent  services  in  that  capacity,  inasmuch  as 
he  had  never  been  heard  of  before,  was  appoint- 
ed deput}T  warden  of  the  penitentiar}r.  The  war- 
den, Frank  McLister,  was  one  of  the  very  few  ap- 
pointments made  by  Waite  that  were  entirel3r  sat- 
isfactor3r.  Perhaps  this  was  the  reason  that  he 
was  distastefuly  to  the  governor's  relative  who 
served  as  his  deputy,  as  no  other  valid  reason 
has  been  cited.  The  relationship  of  the  deputy 
to  the  goverhor  was  not  considered  a  fact  of  any 
very  great  moment  b}r  McLister,  who  performed 
his  duties  himself,  and  insisted  that  his  asso- 
ciates should  be  equally  diligent  in  the  service 
of  the  state.  This  did  not  please  Bruce  and  he  was 
promptly  discharged.  The  governor  seemed  in- 
capable of  understanding  why  a  relative  of  his 
should  be  discharged  for  neglect  of  duty  without 
the  consent  of  the  executive,  and  upon  some  tri- 
fling matter  connected  with  the  management  of 
the  prison,  summoned  McLister  to  appear  before 
the  court  of  final  resort  established  at  the  State 
house,  of  which  his  excellency  was  at  once  the 
prosecuting  attorne3T,  judge  and  jur\-.  McLister 
declined  to  obey  the  summons,  and  was  prompt- 


A   STRATEGIC  MOVE  225 

ly  declared  to  be  in  contempt  and  removed  for 
malfeasance  in  office.  On  December  1  an  execu- 
tive order  was  issued  removing  McLister  and  ap- 
pointing- S.  J.  To3r  as  his  successor.  The  new  ap- 
pointee, accompanied  by  son-in-law  Bruce,  went 
to  Canon  Cit}%  and  sometime  about  midnight  of 
December  1,  secured  admission  by  strategy,  and, 
by  exhibiting  the  order,  obtained  temporary  rec- 
ognition as  the  warden.  Toward  daylight  the 
alarm  bell  was  rung,  and  Warden  McLister,  hur- 
rying to  the  prison,  learned  of  the  situation  for 
the  first  time.  On  the  following  night  two  of  the 
guards  who  doubted  the  legality  of  this  summa- 
ry proceeding,  quietly  introduced  McLister  to  the 
prison,  To}r,  in  his  turn,  \\as  deposed,  and  taking 
up  his  quarters  at  an  hotel,  left  for  Denver  by  the 
first  train.  When  the  facts  became  known  the 
governor  for  the  first  time  became  aware  that  he 
had  acted  without  authority;  that  the  warden 
could  only  be  removed  upon  the  complaint  of  the 
penitentiary  commissioners,  and  that  in  follow- 
ing his  own  impulses  he  had  again  made  himself 
ridiculous.  The  commissioners,  when  appealed 
to,  declined  to  file  any  complaint  against  McLis- 
ter,  and  therefore  the  governor  decided  to  remove 
them.  The  usual  charge  of  malfeasance  in  office 
was  preferred,  and  after  the  usual  trial  in  the 
high  court  in  the  executive  chambers,  in  which 
they  clearly  proved  their  legal  author!  t}'  to  per- 
form the  acts  complained  of,  they  were  formally 
deposed.  They  refused  to  be  deposed,  however, 
continued  to  perform  their  duties,  retained  Mc- 
Lister  as  warden,  and  held  the  fort  until  the  ex- 


226  THE  SALIDA    CONVENTION 

piration  of  Waite's  term,  though  their  alleged 
successors  amused  themselves  by  holding-  meet- 
ings, removing  McLister,  and  reappointing  Tov, 
until  the  latter  became  tired  of  the  farce  and  re- 
signed the  office  of  which  he  had  never  been  able 
to  obtain  possession. 

Governor  Waite  possessed  the  happy  faculty 
of  placing  himself  in  one  ridiculous  position  be- 
fore he  had  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  another. 
He  was  still  in  the  tangle  of  the  penitentiary  af- 
fair when  December  (5,  the  date  fixed  for  his  great 
miners'  convention  at  Salida,  arrived.  The  min- 
ers had  paid  little  attention  to  his  circular,  and 
when  he  arrived  at  Salida  with  his  big  roll  of 
manuscript  he  was  met  by  just  eighteen  men, 
including  those  who  were  office-holders  of  his 
administration.  Upon  this  handful  of  delegates 
he  fired  IMS  speech,  and  at  the  close  a  vote  on  the 
proposition  for  an  extra  session  was  taken,  and 
resulted  in  favor  of  the  session  by  a  majority  of 
two,  eight  of  those  present  voting  against  it.  The 
state  rung  with  laughter  from  end  to  end,  but 
the  merriment  was  tempered  by  the  reflection 
that  this  governor,  who  was  rapidly  develop- 
ing traits  unwortli3^  of  any  aspirant  for  public 
position,  would,  b}'  calling  an  extra  session  at 
the  request  of  ten  irresponsible  men,  cause  a 
waste  of  not  less  than  $30,000.  He  was  entertain- 
ing, but  exceedingly  expensive. 

By  this  time  the  majority  of  the  people  of  the 
state  had  lost  confidence,  not  onl}T  in  the  ability 
but  in  the  integrity  of  the  governor.  So  many  of 
his  acts  belied  his  words;  he  had  so  frequentl}' 


NO  CONFIDENCE  IN   WAITE  227 

shown  that  the  welfare  of  himself,  his  family, 
and  his  party,  in  the  order  named,  was  considered 
of  more  importance  than  the  welfare  of  the  state; 
he  had  been  so  urgent  in  devising  expedients  for 
putting  the  state  in  a  turmoil,  out  of  which,  by 
tortuous  logic  and  the  distortion  and  suppres- 
sion of  facts,  some  advantage  might  be  gained  by 
his  party,  that  even  his  personal  honesty  was 
called  in  question.  On  the  evidence  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  own  party,  and  according  to  his  own 
testimony,  he  was  surrounded  by  incompetence, 
venality,  corruption  and  falsehood,  and  it  was 
not  understood  how  he  could  be  so  often  deceived 
on  these  points.  It  was  also  seen  that  when  lie 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  pursue  a  certain  line  of 
policy,  he  sought,  not  the  real  sentiments  of  the 
people,  but  the  justification  of  his  own  course, 
which  he  usually  succeeded  in  securing,  through 
the  aid  of  his  personal  following,  at  least  to  his 
own  satisfaction.  It  was  remarked  that  in  regard 
to  the  extra  session  he  had  been  urged  against  it 
by  the  leading  business  interests  of  the  stale,  re- 
gardless of  partisan  leanings;  that  a  majority  of 
the  members  of  the  assembly  were  opposed  to  it; 
that  the  men  in  active  business  in  all  sections  of 
the  state  considered  it  unnecessary,  and  }^et  he 
selected  fewer  than  one-half  the  prominent  min- 
ing camps  of  the  state,  choosing  onl}'  those  in 
which  he  had  received  the  largest  majorities,  to 
create  an  advisory  convention  on  the  subject;  and 
when  the  camps  of  his  own  choice  refused  to  send 
delegates,  and  onl}r  eighteen  men  assembled,  did 
not  hesitate  to  accept  the  dictum  of  ten  of  these 


228  DAIRYING   WITH   CRIMINALS 

men  as  representing-  the  wishes  of  the  people  of 
the  state.  It  was  not  considered  honest,  and  pub- 
lic opinion  was  correct. 

Upon  his  return  from  Salida  the  Governor 
definitely  announced  his  determination  to  call 
an  extra  session  of  the  legislature  in  compliance 
with  the  expressed  wishes  of  ten  of  the  alleged 
miners  of  the  state.  The  suggestion  that  the  leg- 
islature would  meet  and  immediately  adjourn, 
was  met  by  the  assertion  that  it  would  beat  once 
recalled,  and  would  be  compelled  to  take  action 
on  his  propositions.  To  guard  against  such  a 
movement,  however,  the  governor  took  a  new 
tack.  At  the  regular  session  he  had,  upon  one 
pretext  or  another,  vetoed  a  number  of  public  im- 
provement bills  of  acknowledged  merit.  He  pro- 
posed to  resubmit  these  measures,  which  he  was 
sure  would  pass, and  thus  com  pel  the  legislature, 
in  justice  to  the  people  whom  these  acts  would 
benefit,  to  remain  in  session,  apparently  careless 
of  the-fact  that  such  action  would  lay  him  open 
to  the  charge  of  dishonesty,  either  in  the  origi- 
nal veto  of  the  bills,  or  in  their  resubmission. 

While  the  governor  was  pondering  over  his 
call  for  the  legislature  the  state  was  overrun  with 
the  criminal  classes,  posing  as  laboring  men  out 
of  employment.  The  police  force  of  Denver  hon- 
estly endeavored  to  do  their  duty,  the  police  com- 
missioners, Orr  and  Martin,  earnestly  trying  to 
keep  in  check  the  throng  of  thieves  and  thugs 
that  had  established  headquarters  in  the  cit}r. 
All  such  efforts,  however,  were  nullified  by  the 
action  of  the  police  magistrate,  who  took  pleas 


PROTEvSTS  AGAINST   THE  EXTRA  vSESSION     229 

are  in  discharging  the  crowds  of  known  crimin- 
als brought  before  him  on  the  charge  of  vagran- 
cy, upon  the  plea  that  the}7  were  workingmen 
without  the  opportunity  to  secure  employment, 
until  finally  the  police  threw  up  their  hands  in 
disgust,  and  crime  ran  rampant  in  the  streets  of 
the  capital. 

On  December  21  a  mass  convention  of  the  busi- 
ness men  of  the  state  was  held  in  Denver,  at 
which  every  important  town  was  represented,  for 
the  consideration  of  the  proposition  for  an  extra 
session,  the  governor  having  consented  to  await 
the  issue  of  this  convention  before  making  his 
call.  The  convention  adopted  resolutions  ad- 
verse to  the  extra  session,  appointed  a  committee 
to  present  them  to  the  governor,  and  adjourned. 
When  the  committee  waited  upon  the  governor 
on  the  following  day,  the}7  were  received  with 
scant  courtesy.  Their  remarks  were  listened 
to  with  more  or  less  patience,  but  had  no  effect 
upon  his  determination.  Notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  in  this  bod}7  of  representative  men 
but  nine  votes  had  been  cast  in  favor  of  the  ex- 
tra session,  he  informed  the  committee  that 
he  knew  that  a  majority  of  the  people  were  in  fa- 
vor of  a  meeting  of  the  legislature,  and  the  only 
concession  obtained  by  the  committee  was  the 
gracious  promise  that  he  would  sleep  over  it. 

The  business  men's  committee,  convinced  of 
the  injury  that  would  result  to  Colorado  from  an 
extra  session,  issued  a  call,  requesting  the  people 
of  ever}7  town  in  the  state  to  meet  in  mass  con- 
vention in  their  respective  towns,  and  give  ex- 


230  EXTRA  SESSION  CALLED 

pression  to  their  views  on  the  subject,  but  the 
governor  declined  to  await  the  result  of  this  plan. 
He  slept  over  it,  as  he  had  promised,  two  nights, 
but  his  slumbers  were  not  conducive  to  better 
judgment,  and  on  December  25  he  issued  his  call 
to  the  members  of  the  legislature,  requiring 
jhem  to  meet  in  special  session  on  Wednesday, 
January^  10,  to  consider: 

First— The  coinage  of  money  by  the  state. 

Second — The  enactment  of  a  law  prohibiting' 
the  execution  of  any  contract  involving  pa3^ment 
of  money  in  gold  coin. 

Third — The  calling  of  a  constitutional  conven- 
tion. 

Fourth — The  amendment  of  the  laws  for  the 
Construction  of  State  canal  No.  1  so  as  to  provide 
for  such  construction  under  the  supervision  of 
state  officers,  and  payment  therefor  in  certificates 
of  indebtedness  of  small  denominations,  receiva- 
ble by  the  state  in  payment  of  water  carriage, 
and  for  the  sale  or  lease  of  state  lands, 

Fifth — The  amendment  of  the  law  for  the  con- 
struction of  State  Canal  No.  2  in  like  manner. 

Sixth — The  passage  of  an  act  for  the  construc- 
tion of  Twin  Lakes  reservoir. 

Seventh — The  repeal  of  all  laws  authorizing 
the  issue  of  municipal  bonds, 

Eighth — The  passage  of  a  law  permitting  mu- 
nicipalities to  pay  for  public  improvements  with 
certificates  of  indebtedness. 

Ninth — The  passage  of  a  law  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  registrar  of  the  state  treasury,  whose 
duty  should  be  to  keep  a  record  of  all  certificates 


THE    WORK   LAID  OUT  231 

of  indebtedness  issued  by  the  state  or  by  munici- 
palities. 

Tenth  —To  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  ex- 
penses of  the  extra  session. 

Eleventh — The  fixing-  of  the  interest  on  judg- 
ments at  six  per  cent. 

Twelfth — The  creation  of  a  new  county  to  in- 
clude the  Cripple  Creek  region. 

Thirteenth— The  appointment  of  an  additional 
judge  in  the  fourth  judicial  district. 

Fourteenth — To  amend  the  homestead  law. 

Fifteenth — The  enactment  of  a  provision 
whereby,  when  a  state  warrant  is  issued,  and 
there  is  no  money  in  the  state  treasury,  said  war- 
rant may  be  exchangeable  at  the  option  of  the 
holder,  for  a  certificate  of  indebtedness. 

Sixteenth— The  abolition  of  the  contract  sys- 
tem of  constructing  public  works. 

Seventeenth — The  enactment  of  a  law  provid- 
ing that  not  more  than  one-third  of  the  rent 
charge  for  water  for  irrigating  may  be  collected 
in  advance. 

Eighteenth— The  passage  of  an  eight  hour 
law. 

Nineteenth— The  passage  of  a  law  against 
usury. 

Twentieth— The  amendment  of  the  attach- 
ment laws. 

Twenty-first — The  enactment  of  a  law  provid- 
ing that  trust  deeds  shall  operate  as  mortgages 
only. 

Twenty-second —The  amendment  of  the  chat- 
tel mortgage  laws. 


232  THE  WORK  I^AID  OUT 

Twenty-third— The  absolute  prohibition  of 
child  labor. 

Twenty-fourth — The  amendment  of  the  em- 
plo3Ters'  liability  bill. 

Twenty-fifth — Prohibition  of  the  "  sweating  " 
system. 

Twenty-sixth — The  prohibition  of  coal  trusts 
and  monopolies. 

Twenty-seventh — Requiring1  bills  of  lading1 
from  railroad  companies  for  all  coal  transported. 

Twenty-eighth— The  amendment  of  the  stat- 
ute on  garnishment. 

Twenty-ninth — The  amendment  of  the  Austra- 
lian ballot  law. 

Thirtieth — The  enactment  of  a  law  providing 
for  the  appointment  of  a  bank  examiner  by  the 
governor. 

Thirty-first— The  adoption  of  the  initiative  and 
referendum. 

Thirty-second — The  reconsideration  of  the 
public  improvement  bills  vetoed  by  the  govern- 
or at  the  regular  session. 

It  will  be  seen  that  a  sufficient  amount  of 
work  was  laid  out  to  keep  the  assembly  in  ses- 
sion six  months,  and  yet  the  governor  expressed 
the  opinion  that  the  business  of  the  session  could 
be  concluded  in  thirty  days,  probably  upon  the 
presumption  that  the  legislature  would  accept 
his  views  and  enact  them  into  laws  without  fur- 
ther consideration. 

The  state  auditor  created  something  of  a  sen- 
sation by  the  assertion  that  the  expenses  of  the 
Session  Could  not  be  paid  on  account  of  the  lack 


WAIT  IS  vSTARTS  A    PAPER  233 

of  money  in  the  treasury,  and  that  no  warrants 
therefor  would  be  issued.  But  the  governor 
trusted  to  luck  and  the  ingenuity  of  his  friends 
to  get  him  out  of  this  difficulty,  and  sailed  along, 
supremely  indifferent  to  consequences,  and  con- 
tented  with  himself. 

Karly  in  the  3rear  he  conceived  the  idea  that  a 
daily  paper  was  a  necessity,  and  at  once  devised 
a  scheme  for  an  assessment  upon  the  office  hold- 
ers of  his  administration,  to  provide  the  necessa- 
ry funds.  As  usual,  the  application  for  positions 
in  the  new  enterprise  were  sufficiently  numerous 
to  get  out  a  Sunday  edition  of  the  New  York 
World.  The  paper  was  started  and  ran  its  course 
in  a  few  weeks,  during  which  time  the  governor 
added  the  work  of  an  editor  to  his  official  duties, 
and  created  the  heart-burnings  that  might  have 
been  expected  from  such  an  assemblage  of  vivid 
intellects  as  thronged  the  offices  of  the  state 
house. 

Meantime  more  f  amity  quarrels  demanded  the 
attention  of  the  governor.  The  attorney-general 
was  at  outs  with  the  governor's  office,  and  im- 
peachment proceedings  were  threatened  by  the 
governor.  The  auditor  maintained  the  inabilit}* 
of  the  state  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  extra  ses- 
sion, and  the  supporters  of  his  excellency  de- 
manded that  the  appropriations  for  state  institu- 
tions should  be  used  for  that  purpose.  The  Den- 
ver fire  and  police  board  were  charged  with  dis- 
loyalty to  the  party  because  it  had  endeavored  to 
maintain  a  well-organized  police  force,  and  had 
neglected  to  make  places  for  the  hordes  of  appli- 


234  LEGISLATURE    IX   SESSION 

cants  for  positions  on  the  force.  Commissioners 
Orr  and  Martin  had  absolutely  refused  to  make 
the  police  force  a  mere  political  machine,  and 
earl}T  in  January  it  was  announced  that  the\* 
were  liable  to  be  removed  at  any  time.  A  suffi- 
cient number  of  changes  had  already  been  made 
in  both  the  fire  and  police  departments  to  seri- 
ously impair  their  etricienc\T,  and  now  it  was  pro- 
posed to  make  a  clean  sweep,  and  put  none  but 
Populists  on  guard,  and  in  order  to  do  this  re- 
move the  only  men  among  all  the  Denver  ap- 
pointments whose  fitness  for  the  places  occupied 
had  not  been  questioned.  Both  gentlemen  were 
familiar  with  business  and  political  methods, 
both  had  a  reputation  for  honest}T  that  was  above 
reproach.  Judge  Orr  had  served  another  state 
acceptably  in  congress,  while  Mr.  Martin's  long 
and  successful  business  career  in  Colorado  was 
without  a  stain.  Hut  all  this  counted  for  nothing 
as  against  the  necessity  for  the  creation  of  a  ma- 
chine for  the  manufacture  of  Populist  votes,  and 
the}'  were  devoted  to  political  destruction  by  the 
governor  and  his  immediate  followers. 

But  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  claimed  the 
entire  attention  of  the  governor,  and  for  the  pres- 
ent the  police  board  was  permitted  to  remain  un- 
disturbed. 

At  a  caucus  of  twenty-eight  senators  held  on 
Januar3T  8,  twenty  expressed  themselves  as  favor- 
ing an  adjournment  immediate!}'  upon  the  re- 
ceipt of  the  governor's  message.  On  the  follow- 
ing day  a  caucus  of  the  members  of  the  house 
was  held,  and  it  was  found  that  forty-two  favored 


SEVEN  DOLLARS  A   DAY   WIXS  235 

an  immediate  adjournment.  When  the  assembly 
convened  the  governor  read  his  message,  and 
then,  fearing  the  effect  upon  the  public  mind  of 
some  of  his  sky-rocket}^  expressions,  withdrew 
the  document  for  revision.  Contrary  to  general 
expectation,  the  house  refused  to  consider  an}r 
proposition  looking  toward  adjournment,  and  af- 
ter a  few  days'  session,  during  which  it  was  found 
that  the  funds  for  payment  could  be  secured 
from  the  treasury  by  means  of  some  legislative 
hocus-pocus,  it  became  evident  that  the  legisla- 
ture was  settled  for  a  long  session.  On  January 
13  the  question  of  immediate  adjournment  was 
brought  up  and  lost  by  a  tie  vote.  The  senate  pro- 
fessed to  be  anxious  to  adjourn,  and  announced 
its  intention  of  transacting  no  business  other 
than  the  routine  necessary  to  continue  in  session, 
but  as  this  did  not  affect  the  expense  account  the 
seven-clollar-a-day  men  in  the  house  only  smiled, 
and  continued  the  pretense  of  earning  their  per 
diem.  An  effort  on  the  part  of  the  senate  for  a 
conference  committee  on  the  adjournment  ques- 
tion was  flatly  rejected  by  the  house,  and  the 
senate  continued  to  adjourn  from  day  to  da}r 
while  the  house  kept  up  the  farce  of  pretending 
to  transact  business.  Finally  a  conference  com- 
mittee was  appointed,  but  accomplished  nothing 
toward  adjournment.  The  report  of  the  commit- 
tee favored  legislation  along  certain  lines,  and 
was  adopted,  and  after  thirteen  days  of  wasted 
time  it  was  decided  that  the  session  should  be 
continued. 

About  the  time  that  the  legislature  had  dec  id- 


^36  THE  POLICE   BOARD   AFFAIR 

ed  to  continue  in  session,  the  differences  between 
the  governor  and  the  fire  and  police  board  came 
to  a  crisis.  Judge  Orr  had  proved  entirely  un- 
satisfactory to  Waite,  and  the  governor  had  for 
some  time  been  looking-  for  an  opportunit3T  for 
his  removal.  Mr.  Martin  sustained  Orr,  and  had 
likewise  been  booked  for  removal.  Commission- 
er Trimble  had  been  appointed  merely  to  keep  the 
place  warm  for  A.  J.  Rogers,  and  when  that  gen- 
tleman had  been  sufficiently  long  in  the  state  to 
be  eligible  for  appointment,  Trimble  accommo- 
datingly stepped  aside,  and  Rogers  was  duU'  in- 
stalled. From  the  first  Rog'ers  opposed  the  other 
members  of  the  board  and  worked  for  their  re- 
moval. Karly  in  January  it  was  reported  to  the 
governor  that  the  board  had  appointed  special 
policemen  for  certain  gambling  houses.  On  be- 
ing questioned  on  this  point  Orr  and  Martin  ad 
mitted  that  this  had  been  done,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  order,  but  denied  that  it  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  the  gamblers,  Judge  Orr  rath- 
er bluntly  intimating  to  the  governor  that  any 
attempt  to  remove  him  and  Commissioner  Martin 
would  be  resisted  by  force  if  necessai^. 

Interjected  in  this  contest  with  the  police 
board  was  the  old  penitentiar}'  fight,  the  govern- 
or, with  a  balky  legislature,  recalcitrant  police 
commissioners,  and  a  host  of  would-be  Populist 
office-holders  on  his  hands  at  the  same  time,  still 
finding  time  hanging  so  heavy  that  he  was  com- 
pelled to  find  employment  by  renewing  his  efforts 
to  oust  McLister  and  the  penitentiary  commis- 
sioners, suggesting  that  in  the  event  of  a  further 


THE   CITY   HALL   WAR  237 

refusal  of  the  warden  to  vacate  the  military 
might  be  called  upon  to  blow  the  penitentiary 
about  his  ears.  This,  however,  like  his  other  ef- 
forts in  the  same  direction,  ended  in  smoke. 

The  legislature  adjourned  on  March  2,  having 
been  in  session  fift3r-two  days,  during- which  time 
it  passed  a  few  amendments  to  existing  laws,  a 
bill  for  the  construction  of  a  bridge,  appropriat- 
ed $10,000  for  the  work  on  state  canals,  and  bills 
appropriating  the  necessary  sums  for  the  ex- 
penses of  the  session.  The  governor's  Mexican 
dollar  scheme  was  lost  in  the  shuffle. 

The  legislature  out  of  the  way,  Governor  Waite 
found  time  to  take  up  the  matter  of  the  Denver 
police  board,  which  had  been  held  in  statu  quo 
for  several  weeks.  He  was  outspoken  in  his  de- 
termination to  remove  Orr  and  Martin,  and  the 
commissioners  were  equally  outspoken  in  their 
determination  to  resist  removal  until  the  courts 
should  pass  upon  the  questions  at  issue.  The  of- 
fice of  the  commissioners  was  guarded  by  po- 
licemen, and  every  move  made  in  the  executive 
chamber  was  promptly  reported  to  the  board.  It 
was  expected  from  the  first  that  force  would  be 
attempted,  and  careful  preparations  were  made 
to  resist  attack.  For  several  days  the  situation 
was  strained,  armed  policemen  keeping  guard  at 
the  city  hall,  and  an  unusual  air  of  activity  per- 
vading state  headquarters  in  the  Equitable  build- 
ing. On  March  7  the  report  was  current  that  in 
the  event  of  the  refusal  of  the  commissioners  to 
vacate  the  military  would  be  called  out.  On  that 
date  the  formal  order  was  made  removing  Orr 


238  PRELIMINARY   LEGAL  SKIRMISHING 

and  Martin  and  appointing-  Dennis  Mullins  and 
S.  E.  Barnes  as  their  successors.  The  commis- 
sioners announced  their  refusal  to  vacate,  and 
the  entire  city  awaited  the  issue  with  interest 
tinged  with  anxiet}',  for  it  had  been  shown  that 
the  governor  was  equal  to  any  desperate  under- 
taking in  the  effort  to  maintain  his  position. 
Large  numbers  of  special  deputy  sheriffs  had 
been  appointed,  and  the  city  hall  was  surrounded 
b}r  a  cloud  of  men,  all  heavil}^  armed  and  wearing 
deputy  sheriff's  badges.  On  March  8  Judge  Gra- 
ham issued  a  writ  enjoining  the  governor  and 
his  appointees  from  interfering  with  Orr  and 
Martin,  and  while  the  governor  asserted  that  the 
injunction  was  not  worth  the  paper  it  was  written 
on,  he  nevertheless  respected  it  for  a  time  and 
the  question  bade  fair  to  be  submitted  to  the  ar- 
bitrament of  the  courts.  Meanwhile  the  talk  of 
calling  out  the  militia  continued,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  Governor  Waite  still  contemplated  this 
action.  The  guard  over  the  city  hall  was  some- 
what relaxed,  but  extra  vigilance  was  still  main- 
tained, the  commissioners  being  determined  to 
permit  no  strategic  movement  to  oust  them  from 
their  positions.  An  application  to  modify  the 
writ  was  denied  by  Judge  Graham,  and  in  his  de- 
cision he  plainly  denied  the  right  of  the  govern- 
or to  call  out  the  militia  except  in  accordance 
with  a  call  from  the  constituted  civil  authorities. 
On  the  evening  of  March  14,  immediately  follow- 
ing the  decision  of  Judge  Graham,  the  governor 
decided  to  defy  the  court,  and  called  out  the  mili- 
tary' of  Denver,  directing  the  troops  to  be  at  the 


WAR   DECLARED  239 

armory,  prepared  for  active  service,  at  noon  of 
the  loth. 

The  announcement  of  these  orders  created  the 
most  intense  excitement  throughout  the  city,  and 
an  earnest  effort  was  made  to  induce  the  governor 
to  recall  his  order.  Waite  was  obstinate,  howev- 
er. Like  most  men  of  his  mental  calibre,  he 
regarded  himself  and  his  acts  with  the  utmost 
seriousness,  and  had  been  wrought  up  by  the 
ridicule  aroused  by  himself.  He  seemed,  up  to 
the  last  moment  of  his  official  career  to  be  haunt- 
ed by  the  fear  that  unless  he  should  make  a  pub- 
lic display  of  the  power  of  the  executive  people 
would  forget  that  he  was  governor,  not  seeming 
to  realize  that  great  forces  move  noiselessly, 
while  clatter  and  bang  are  the  usual  accompani- 
ments of  weakness  and  mediocrity.  He  now  had 
an  opportunity  to  show  the  people  of  Colorado, 
not  only  that  he  was  governor,  but  that  he  had 
sufficient  character  to  enforce  his  commands. 
An  egoist  in  the  most  trifling  affairs  of  life,  he 
could  not  realize  the  possibility  of  an}^  difference 
with  his  opinions,  and  would  not  suffer  so  unim- 
portant a  circumstance  as  a  few  human  lives  to 
stand  in  the  way  of  the  execution  of  his  orders. 

Shortly  after  noon  the  news  spread  with  light- 
ning-like rapidity  that  the  troops  were  in  motion, 
and  a  few  moments  later  they  were  at  the  corner 
of  Lawrence  and  Fourteenth  streets.  By  this 
time  no  fewer  than  ten  thousand  men  surround- 
ed the  city  hall,  which  number  was  increased 
during  the  afternoon  until  the  throng  numbered 
at  least  twenty  thousand,  filling  every  avenue 


240  TROOPS  TAKE  POSITION 

leading-  to  the  city  hall  for  several  blocks.  The 
cit}r  hall  itself  was  guarded  by  three  or  four  hun- 
dred men, armed  with  \Vinchestersand  revolvers, 
and  from  every  window  in  the  building-  were 
threatening-  muzzles,  onl}-  waiting-  for  the  at- 
tack to  blaze  forth  upon  the  unprotected  militia, 
run  into  a  death  trap  through  the  incompetency 
and  stupidity  of  the  adjutant-general,  who  was 
chiefly  responsible  for  a  display  of  force  which 
would  have  been  ridiculous  had  it  not  been  for 
the  fearful  tragedy  hidden  beneath  the  muzzles 
of  the  cannon. 

Old  soldiers  who  had  looked  over  the  situation 
prior  to  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  supposed  that 
they  would  be  halted  on  Lawrence  street,  where, 
in  case  the  governor  should  proceed  to  extremi- 
ties, the  men  could  have  been  sheltered  by  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  building,  while  approach- 
es were  inade  from  other  directions.  But  this 
man  Tarsney  seemed  to  imagine  that  the  time  had 
arrived  for  him  to  make  the  reputation  which  he 
had  previously  lacked.  He  had  been  in  the  army, 
and  should  have  known  something  about  war, 
but  had  forgotten,  if  he  had  ever  learned,  that  an 
important  duty  of  an  officer  is  the  protection 
of  his  men  from  unnecessary  danger.  The  Napo- 
leon  guns  were  run  down  on  Fourteenth  street 
to  a  point  in  line  with  the  rear  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  building,  and  there  halted  and  trained 
Upon  the  front  door  of  the  city  hall,  within  sixty 
yards  of  three  hundred  Winchesters,  which  could 
j»ile  the  street  with  dead  artillerymen  before  the 
guns  could  be  reloaded.  And  there  they 


WAITE   BOUND  TO  HAVE   BLOOD  241 

stood,  those  brave  young-  men,  all  the  afternoon, 
awaiting-  the  order  which  should  send  more  than 
half  of  them  into  eternity,  surrounded  by  an  an- 
gry mob,  in  which  were  hundreds  of  deputy 
sheriffs,  waiting  to  take  a  hand  in  the  fray  at  close 
quarters. 

Meantime  the  mayor,  members  of  the  cham- 
ber of  commerce,  leading  merchants,  bankers, 
manufacturers,  private  citizens,  rich  and  poor, 
were  pouring-  in  upon  the  governor  with  entreaties 
that  he  should  recall  the  troops  before  some  acci- 
dent should  happen  that  might  precipitate  a  con- 
flict in  which  the  loss  of  life  \vould  be  fearful. 
The  best  that  could  be  accomplished  was  the 
postponement  of  the  hour  of  attack  from  time  to 
time,  until  a  suggestion  was  made  that  the  federal 
troops  be  called  in.  The  governor  had  by  this 
time  become  convinced  that  the  military  would 
be  entirely  unable  to  cope  with  the  city  hall  peo- 
ple, and  with  a  prudent  regard  for  his  own  safet}* 
had  left  the  executive  chamber,  and  taken  refug-e 
in  his  boarding  house,  surrounded  by  an  armed 
guard  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  men.  When  the  sug- 
gestion of  federal  troops  was  made,  it  was  eag-erl}^ 
accepted  as  a  way  out  of  a  serious  difficulty,  and 
i\  request  was  at  once  sent  to  General  McCook. 
The  general  had  kept  a  watchful  eye  upon  the 
proceeding's,  and  within  two  hours  five  compa- 
nies from  Fort  Logan  were  bivouacked  in  the 
Gettysburg  building.  The  governor  supposed 
that  these  troops  were  present  to  reinforce  his  ar- 
my, and  when  he  discovered  that  United  States 
troops  could  not  be  used  to  install  state  or  muni- 


2±2  FEDERAL   TROOPS   CALLED    IX 

cipal  officials  by  force,  his  rage  burst  all  bounds. 
He  ordered  General  McCook  to  take  his  troops 
out  of  the  city  at  once,  and  received  a  further  sur- 
prise upon  learning-  that  federal  troops  could  not 
obe}T  the  orders  even  of  so  exalted  a  personage  as 
the  governor  of  Colorado.  The  troops  had  been 
called  for  to  preserve  order,  and  as  long  as  disor- 
der prevailed  would  remain.  The  mayor  had  re- 
quested the  retention  of  the  regulars,  and  this 
time  the  governor  was  compelled  to  curb  his  ap- 
petite for  blood  by  the  bucketful. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  that  the  governor 
was  not  in  earnest;  that  it  was  never  his  intention 
to  order  the  troops  to  fire.  This  is  a  mistake. 
The  governor  was  terribly  in  earnest.  There  is 
no  one  so  dangerous  as  a  conceited  man  in  au- 
thority whose  vanity  has  been  wounded  by  ridi- 
cule. Governor  Waite  had  talked  so  much  about 
the  regeneration  of  societ\r  in  a  baptism  of  blood, 
that  he  seemed  to  have  argued  himself  into  a  be- 
lief in  its  necessity,  and  his  supreme  vanity  and 
egoism  apparent! 3r  led  him  to  believe  that  he  was 
the  agent  appointed  to  officiate  at  the  baptismal 
ceremonies. 

Few  people,  even  among  the  on-lookers,  appre- 
ciated the  gravity  of  the  situation.  Men  laughed, 
and  talked,  and  joked  about  war  as  they  looked 
down  the  brazen  throats  of  those  Napoleons,  who 
knew  no  more  about  war  than  did  his  excellency, 
Davis  H.  W.aite,  but  despite  their  jeers  and  laugh- 
ter, Denver  was  never  in  more  serious  peril  than 
on  that  15th  day  of  March,  1894,  with  but  one  cool- 
headed  man  of  experience— General  E.  J.  Brooks 


THE  TROOPS   RETIRE  243 

— standing  between  a  mad  governor  and  an  excit- 
ed and  justly  indignant  people. 

Threats  of  hang-ing-  the  governor  in  the  event 
of  an  emeute  and  loss  of  life  were  freety  made 
and  passed  by  as  idle  talk,  but  it  is  now  kncwvn 
that  an  organization  was  effected,  that  the  rope 
was  secured,  and  the  noose  made,  the  tree  select- 
ed and  the  particular  limb  marked,  and  that  in 
Jess  than  five  minutes  after  the  report  of  that 
gun  the  private  guards  of  the  governor  would 
have  been  swept  aside  and  the  sole  author  of  the 
trouble  have  expiated  his  crime  with  his  life. 

The  national  guard  returned  to  the  armor}7  at 
half  past  eight  p.  m.,  just  as  the  federal  troops 
had  reached  the  union  depot.  General  McCook 
had  requested  the  withdrawal  of  the  state  troops 
and  had  been  met  with  a  flat  refusal,  but  thegov 
ernor,  who  had  not  3^et  relinquished  his  purpose, 
was  becoming  nervous  under  the  strain,  and 
seemed  incapable  of  issuing  two  consecutive  or- 
ders  on  the  same  line.  When  he  found  that  he 
could  not  command  the  troops  from  Fort  Logan 
to  join  in  an  assault  on  the  city  hall  he  issued  his 
order  calling  out  the  entire  militia  of  the  state, 
and  on  the  following  morning  withdrew  his  re- 
quest for  federal  aid  and  asked  General  McCook 
to  remove  his  troops.  This  the  general  declined 
to  do.  He  had  been  asked  to  assist  in  preserving 
the  peace,  and  proposed  to  do  it.  The  governor 
had  invoked  a  spirit  with  his  official  abracadabra 
which  he  found  it  impossible  to  control,  and  his 
attitude  in  calling  out  the  militia  of  the  state  had 
Convinced  General  McCook  that  there  was  now  a 


244  THE  CONTEST   IX   THE   COURTS. 

greater  necessity  than  ever  for  the  presence   of 
his  men. 

From  the  commencement  of  these  scenes  of 
disorder  inspired  b}^  the  governor,  who  was 
sworn  to  preserve  order,  Orr  and  Martin  had  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  submit  the  question 
at  issue  to  the  supreme  court,  and  on  March  17 
the  governor  submitted  the  question  to  that  tri- 
bunal on  an  ex  parte  showing.  Orr  and  Martin 
objected  to  this,  but  an  arrangement  was  made 
whereb}^  the  attorne3rs  of  the  old  board  went  into 
court  as  the  friends  of  the  court.  Several  days 
were  consumed  in  the  legal  proceedings,  which 
had  been  commenced  in  several  courts,  and  final- 
\y,  on  March  25,  the  supreme  court  rendered  a  de- 
cision in  which  the  ground  was  taken  that  while 
the  governor  had  the  right  to  remove  the  officials, 
he  had  no  right  to  forcibl}'  induct  his  appointees 
to  office,  and  a  refusal  of  the  old  board  to  retire 
must  be  met  by  quo  warranto  proceedings  in  the 
courts.  As  the  main  questions  involved  were  the 
governor's  right  of  removal  and  his  authority 
for  the  use  of  troops,  both  sides  claimed  a  victo- 
ry. The  governor  announced  that  he  would  pa}r 
no  attention  to  any  restraining  order  of  the 
courts.  The  troops  were  here,  and  he  was  the 
commander-in-chief.  What  did  his  office  amount 
to  if  he  could  not  do  as  he  pleased,  law  or  no  law? 
The  legal  proceedings  in  the  several  courts  had 
by  this  time  tangled  up  the  average  layman,  and 
dragged  their  slow  length  along  until  March  28, 
when  the  governor  again  startled  the  city  by  the 
announcement  that  he  was  tired  of  civil  proced- 


WAITE  THREATENS   MARTIAL  LAW  24o 

ure,  and  unless  something  was  speedily  done  he 
would  declare  martial  law  on  account  of  the  ex- 
istence of  what  he  was  pleased  to  term  an  insur- 
rection. Both  boards  were  in  session,  making- 
appointments  and  dismissing1  officers,  and  the 
city  hall  was  the  scene  of  constant  disorder  grow- 
ing1 out  of  the  dissensions  of  their  respective  ad- 
herents. 

A  diversion  had  been  created  by  the  call  of  the 
sheriff  of  El  Paso  count}^  for  military  to  aid  him 
in  the  service  of  civil  warrants  in  Cripple  Creek, 
where  a  miners'  strike  prevailed,  with  more  or 
less  disorder,  and  on  the  day  following  the  city 
hall  war,  the  first  regiment  had  been  sent  to  Crip- 
ple Creek.  As  there  seemed  to  the  governor  to 
be  no  necessity  for  troops  there,  they  were  re- 
called, and  the  air  was  again  full  of  reports  as  to 
the  intentions  of  the  governor.  His  legal  advis- 
ers earnestly  endeavored  to  persuade  him  to  fore- 
go his  determination  to  declare  martial  law,  with 
no  effect,  and  Denver  seemed  to  be  again  on  the 
brink  of  revolution.  Judge  G^nn,  who  was  sit- 
ting in  Arapahoe  county  in  the  absence  of  Judge 
Graham,  enjoined  Orr  and  Martin,  and  the  injunc- 
tion was  disobeyed.  Governor  Waite  ordered  the 
national  guard  to  be  recruited  to  its  full  strength, 
with  the  avowed  intention  of  declaring  martial 
law  andfbringing  a  force  of  fifteen  hundred  men  to 
bear  upon  the  recalcitrant  commissioners.  By 
this  time  everybod}^,  including  the  members  of 
the  contending  boards,  was  tired  of  the  dispute. 
The  governor,  still  bloodthirsty,  was  with  diffi- 
culty restrained  from  declaring  martial  law,  and 


^  \VHITE- \VIXGE1>  PEACK 

fumed  and  fretted  at  the  delay,  and  his  vanishing- 
prospects  for  gratifying-  his  desire  for  war.  But 
for  once  wise  counsels  prevailed,  and  on  April  15 
the  supreme  court  issued  a  writ  of  ouster  direct- 
ed to  Orr  and  Martin,  which  was  promptly  obeyed, 
and  the  governor,  in  spite  of  himself,  was  com- 
pelled to  act  under  the  direction  of  the  civil  au- 
thorities. 

Peace  once  more  prevailed  in  the  corridors  of 
the  city  hall,  and  the  expectant  Populists  who 
had  been  waiting  for  appointments  on  the  police 
force  marched  up  in  solid  phalanx  to  claim  their 
reward  for  that  faithfulness  to  Governor  Waite 
and  the  Omaha  platform  which  was  the  sole  test 
of  Populist  efliciencj'. 

The  new  board  entered  on  a  new  tack,  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  crushing-  out  all  forms  of 
vice,  but  with  the  best  intentions  in  the  world,  it 
was  handicapped  by  the  heterogenous  character 
of  the  new  appointees  on  the  police  force,  and  thr 
actions  of  the  police  magistrate,  whose  rulings 
were  an  encouragement  to  vagtants  and  hoboes, 
and  prevented  anything  like  genuine  reform. 
The  police  force  of  Denver  was  never  so  ineffi- 
cient and  mercilessly  ridiculed  as  under  the  last 
fire  and  police  board  of  the  Waite  administra- 
tion. 

On  Ma}T  23  the  fact  was  made  known  that  Sher- 
iff Bowefs,  of  El  Paso  county,  was  enlisting  spe- 
cial deputies  to  protect  the  miners  who  were  will- 
ing to  go  to  work  in  the  Cripple  Creek  mines, 
which  had  been  closed  on  account  of  a  strike 
Bince  February  1.  Whatever  may  have  been  the 


THE  CRIPPLE  CREEK   WAR  247 

merits  of  the  original  controvers}7,  it  is  indisput- 
able that  the  strike  had  been  a  serious  injury  to 
the  camp,  affecting-  not  only  the  mine  owners,  but 
every  miner  and  business  man  in  the  district. 
Several  attempts  had  been  made  to  start  up  the 
mines  under  the  protection  of  the  sheriff,  but  all 
efforts  failed,  and  the  strike  had  now  reached  a 
point  where  violence  was  openly  threatened,  and 
in  some  instances  carried  into  effect.  The  action 
of  the  governor  in  sending  the  first  regiment  to 
the  scene  in  response  to  the  request  of  the  sheriff, 
and  immediately  recalling  it,  inspired  the  leaders 
of  the  strikers  with  boldness,  and  cases  of  outrage 
became  more  frequent.  Business  men  of  Cripple 
Creek  who  refused  assistance  to  the  strikers  were 
boycotted,  men  looking  for  work  were  ordered 
out  of  the  camp,  and  in  some  cases  severely  beat- 
en, arms  were  procured,  fortifications  were  erect- 
ed on  Bull  Hill,  and  word  sent  out  that  no  mine 
would  be  permitted  to  resume  operations  until 
the  demands  of  the  strikers  \vere  complied  with. 
On  the  24th  of  May  one  hundred  deputies  left 
Denver  for  Cripple  Creek,  were  joined  by  about 
fifty  more  at  Colorado  Springs,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  were  near  the  town  of  Victor,  the 
headquarters  of  the  miners'  union.  On  that  day 
the  Strong  mine  was  blown  up  and  the  non-union 
miners  employed  in  the  Independence  mine  cap- 
tured. The  little  army  of  deputies  was  under  the 
command  of  J.  C.  Veatch,  late  chief  of  police  of 
the  city  of  Denver,  and  was  composed  of  stal- 
wart men,  many  of  whom  had  recently  been  on 
the  Denver  police  force,  full}7  one-half  being  vet- 


248  STRIKERS  ATTACK   THE   DEPUTIES 

eran  soldiers  who  were  familiar  with  the  service 
required  of  them.  But  the}'  were  strangers  to 
the  locality,  were  landed  on  a  bare  hill  near  Vic- 
tor, surrounded  by  more  than  twice  their  number 
of  armed  strikers,  and  could  see  that  the}7  were 
not  strong  enough  to  hope  to  successfully  attack 
the  works  on  the  crest  of  Bull  Hill.  They  learned 
something-  of  the  topography  of  the  country 
during  their  stay,  and  discovered  that  the  ap- 
proaches from  the  south  were  impracticable  with 
the  small  force  at  command,  and  without  incur- 
ring serious  loss.  Artillery  was  on  the  way  from 
the  east,  and  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  come  in 
from  the  north,  from  which  direction  they  could 
secure  a  commanding  position  which  would 
compel  the  strikers  to  abandon  their  works  with- 
out occasioning  a  heavy  loss  of  life.  According- 
ly the  command  was  taken  down  the  line  of  the 
Florence  and  Cripple  Creek  railroad,  and  halted 
at  Wilbur,  where  there  was  a  good  camping  site 
and  defensive  position.  The  movement  was  tak- 
en as  a  sign  of  weakness,  and  at  an  earl}-  hour 
the  following  morning  a  strong  force  of  strikers 
started  out  to  attack  the  deputies'  camp.  When 
near  the  camp  a  force  of  fifty  men  was  sent  in  ad- 
vance, but  being  absolutely  ignorant  of  military 
movements  and  dispositions,  almost  stumbled 
over  the  advance  guard  of  the  deputies,  occupy- 
ing a  strong  post,  and  waiting  for  their  assail- 
ants, whom  the}'  could  hear  approaching  through 
the  bushes.  Both  sides  opened  fire,  and  one  dep- 
uty was  killed,  while  the  strikers  lost  two  men 
killed,  several  wounded,  and  six  prisoners.  No 


WAITE  UPHOLDS  THE  STRIKERS  210 

further  demonstration  was  made,  and  the  strik- 
ers retreated  to  their  fortifications. 

At  the  state  house  the  action  of  the  sheriff  was 
furiously  denounced.  Governor  Waite  openly 
expressed  his  sympathy  with  the  strikers  and  as- 
serted that  the  sheriff's  posse  should  be  treated 
as  rioters.  The  attorney-general  insisted  that 
the  enlistment  of  deputies  as  a  posse  comitatus 
outside  of  El  Paso  county  was  illegal,  and  such 
a  bod}^  of  men'was  nothing  more  than  a  lawless 
mob.  The  governor  decided  to  send  out  the 
military,  and  then  rescinded  the  order,  but  at  no 
time  about  the  executive  department  was  there 
any  expression  of  opinion  in  favor  of  upholding 
the  law  and  compelling  the  strikers  to  respect 
the  property  of  others,  and  to  refrain  from  inter- 
fering" with  such  men  as  were  willing  to  work. 
The  governor  had  at  first  intended  to  send  the 
troops  to  suppress  the  deputies,  but  he  learned 
from  some  level-headed  adviser  that  the  moment 
his  militia  resisted  the  service  of  civil  process  by 
the  sheriff  he  would  be  himself  in  rebellion,  and 
in  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  United 
States  government.  Consequently  the  troops 
were  held  until  some  plan  could  be  devised  for 
the  protection  of  the  governor's  friends  who  were 
engaged  in  defying  the  civil  authorit}^  of  which 
he  was  supposed  to  be  the  executive  officer. 

Some  efforts  were  made  toward  settling  the 
differences  between  the  strikers  and  mine  owners^ 
but  nothing  resulted,  and  on  May  29  the  govern- 
or went  to  Victor  in  person  for  the  purpose  of 
patching  up  a  peace.  His  efforts  were  fruitless, 


250  NEGOTIATIONS    FOR    PEACE 

and  the  only  result  of  his  visit  was  to  convince 
the  strikers  that  they  could  come  to  no  harm  so 
long  as  Waite  was  governor,  and  consequently  to 
render  them  more  determined.  The  governor's 
visit  was  with  the  avowed  intention  of  assisting 
the  strikers,  rather  than  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
forcing the  law,  and  the  natural  result  followed. 
At  a  conference  at  Colorado  Springs  he  demand- 
ed that  if  the  strikers  laid  down  their  arms  they 
should  he  granted  immunity  from  arrest.  As  a 
large  number  of  warrants  were  out  this  could 
not  be  granted,  and  the  governor,  after  a  liberal 
draft  upon  his  collection  of  choice  expletives, 
left  for  Denver. 

The  sheriff's  posse,  pending  these  negotia- 
tions, remained  at  Divide,  on  the  Midland  rail- 
road, slowly  increasing  in  numbers,  and  prepar- 
ing to  move  forward  for  the  purpose  of  executing 
the  warrants.  On  June  4  the  governor,  as  the 
authorized  representative  of  the  strikers,  effected 
a  compromise  with  the  mine  owners,  and  for  the 
first  time  publicly  admitted  that  an  insurrection 
was  in  progress  in  Cripple  Creek,  to  quell  which 
he  again  called  out  the  militia.  While  this  nego- 
tiation was  in  progress  the  force  of  deputies,  now 
numbering  about  one  thousand  men,  were  ready 
to  move,  and  on  June  •(>  left  Divide  to  restore 
the  mines  to  the  possession  of  /their  owners,  and 
to  serve  the  warrants  of  the  courts.  The  depu- 
ties marched  to  within  three:  miles  of  the  strik- 
ers' camp,  and  there  halted  to  await  an  attempt 
to  serve  the  warrants.  This  movement  the  gov- 
ernor checkmated  by  directing  General  Brooks 


END  OF  THE  SECOND   WAR  251 

to  permit  no  deputies  to  pans  through  his  lines, 
declaring  that  it  was  nothing  to  him  if  the  sher- 
iff could  not  make  his  arrests,  thus  openly  taking 
a  position  in  opposition  to  the  law. 

The  militia  arrived  at  the  deputies'  camp  on 
June  7,  and  took  up  a  position  where  they  could 
prevent  a  collision  between  the  deputies  and  the 
strikers.  On  the  following  day  the  strikers 
agreed  to  refrain  from  attacking  the  deputies  and 
to  surrender  the  men  for  whom  warrants  were 
held,  and  the  second  Waite  war  was  practically 
over.  During  the  entire  controversy  the  govern- 
or had  exhibited  his  utter  incapacit}-  to  cope 
with  the  question,  and  had  demonstrated  the  fact 
that  he  was  making  the  enforcement  of  the  law 
secondary  to  his  plans  for  securing  a  renomina- 
tion  from  his  party.  The  difficulty  could  have 
been  settled  in  a  .week  by  a  vigorous  support  of 
the  leg-al  authorities.  As  it  was  three  weeks  were 
consumed,  the  law  was  treated  with  contempt  b_v 
his  own  order,  and  thousands  of  dollars  were 
thrown  away,  to  say  nothing  of  the  injury  result- 
ing from  the  loss  of  life  and  property,  and  the 
depreciation  of  values  caused  by  the  strike.;  For 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  country  the 
governor  of  a  state  used  the  forces  under  his 
command  to  protect  the  violators  of  the  law. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  recapitulate  the  minor  in- 
cidents, all  tending  to  show  the  titter  unfitness  of 
Governor  Waite  for  his  position.  For  more  than 
a  year  and  a  half  there  was  scarcely  a  day  in 
which  he  was  not  involved  in  some  unseeml}' 
wrangle,  either  with  his  own  appointees  or  with 


252  A    REPUBLICAN   QUARREL 

the  courts.  Inordinate^'  puffed  up  by  his  suc- 
cess, an  avowed  candidate  for  the  highest  offices 
in  the  gift  of  the  commonwealth,  with  an  exalted 
opinion  of  his  ability  to  decide  off-hand  the  most 
abstruse  questions  connected  with  the  science  of 
government,  he  at  the  same  time  displa}red  many 
of  the  traits  of  the  pot-house  politician,  an  utter 
disregard  of  all  law  at  variance  \vith  his  opinions, 
and  a  determination  to  organize  the  machinery 
of  the  state  government  for  his  own  benefit,  re- 
gardless of  decency,  of  good  order,  and  even  of 
human  life.  Enough  has  been  shown  of  his  ac- 
tions during  his  term  to  account  for  the  determi- 
nation- of  the  people,  as  that  term  drew  to  a  close, 
to  no  longer  suffer  the  state  to  be  disgraced  by  a 
man  in  whose  mental  composition  the  wildest  va- 
garies usurped  the  throne  of  reason,  and  whose 
moral  nature  was  warped  by  intense  selfishness 
and  inordinate  desire  for  self-advancement. 

While  Waite  was  alternate^  terrorizing  and 
amusing  the  people,  the  Republicans  of  Arapa- 
hoe  were,  as  usual,  contributing  their  share  to- 
ward the  prevailing  political  disorder.  I.  N.  Ste- 
vens had  not  taken  his  defeat  for  the  congression- 
al nomination  with  the  equanimity  that  should 
have  been  displa3red  by  so  astute  a  politician, 
and  was  regarded  with  considerable  suspicion 
by  many  Republicans.  He  had  been  an  acknowl- 
edged power  in  Arapahoe  county  for  many  years, 
and  had  naturally  created  many  antagonisms. 
Scores  of  would-be  leaders  had  been  quietly  wait- 
ing for  an  opportunit}-  to  "down  Stevens,"  and 
that  opportunity  seemed  to  have  arrived.  Vari- 


FAMILY  JARS  253 

ous  charges  were  made  against  him,  affecting-  his 
standing*  as  a  Republican,  and  finally  the  opposi- 
tion to  him  crystallized  on  Februar}^  22,  1894,  in 
an  effort  to  eject  him  from  the  chairmanship  of 
the  city  Republican  committee  of  Denver.  It 
was  charged  by  those  opposing  him  that  he  had 
been  guilty  of  treachery  to  the  party  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1892,  and  that  he  had  not  only  failed  to 
support  the  count}^  ticket  in  1893,  but  that  he  had 
been  in  frequent  consultation  with  Waite  and 
other  Populist  leaders,  on  political  subjects,  and 
had,  in  conversations,  justified  the  Populists,  and 
given  cause  for  the  belief  that  he  was  preparing 
to  support  that  party  in  the  coming  campaign. 
Stevens  was  absent  from  the  state  at  the  time  the 
specific  charges  based  on  the  above  allegations 
were  preferred,  but  immediately  returned,  and  at 
the  meeting  of  the  committee  called  to  consider 
the  charges,  was  exonerated.  But  it  was  claimed 
that  Stevens  had  packed  the  committee  with 
friendly  appointees  to  vacancies,  and  the  minori- 
ty bolted  the  meeting  and  organized  a  new  city 
committee,  with  Frank  C.  Goudy  as  chairman. 
This  little  affair  was  of  importance  only  as  it 
served  to  create  another  breach  among  the  Re- 
publicans of  the  capital,  and  had  but  little  influ- 
ence upon  the  fall  campaign,  though  the  contend- 
ing parties  fought  vigorous^,  and  succeeded  in 
injecting  their  differences  into  the  preliminary 
canvass  Mr.  Stevens  announced  that  the  bolters 
from  the  committee  would  be  expelled  from  the 
party.  Mr.  Goudy  retorted  that  the  committee 
would  meet,  and  that  a  majority  of  the  regularly 


254          GOUD#  COMMITTEE  EXPELS   STEVENS 

elected  committeemen  would  be  in  attendance  at 
a  meeting  called  for  a  reorganization  of  the  com- 
mittee. He  refused  to  recognize  the  committee- 
men  appointed  by  Mr.  Stevens  to  fill  vacancies, 
though  Mr.  Stevens  insisted  that  the  authority 
had  been  given  him  by  the  committee.  The 
Goudy  committee  held  its  meeting  on  February 
28,  and  took  testimony  relative  to  the  alleged 
treachery  of  Mr.  Stevens,  in  which  it  was  shown 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  committee  that  Stevens 
had  been  guilt}- of  conduct  inconsistent  with  his 
professions  of  fealt}-  to  the  Republican  part}r, 
and  that  a  well-known  Populist  had,  in  a  letter, 
referred  to  the  plans  of  Mr.  Stevens  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  leave  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  the 
committee  that  he  had  been  engaged  in  negotia- 
tions with  the  Populists.  Telegrams  from  both 
senators  were  read,  declaring  a  lack  of  confi- 
dence in  Stevens,  that  from  Senator  Wolcott  be- 
ing so  clear  as  to  seem  to  disprove  the  assertion 
that  in  1892  Stevens  was  Wolcott's  choice  for  rep- 
resentative. The  meeting  resulted  in  the  adop- 
tion of  a  resolution  declaring  the  position  of 
chairman  of  the  city  committee  vacant,  and  elect- 
ing Goud}'  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  Stevens  wing 
of  the  committee  met  on  the  same  evening,  and 
the  forty-two  members  who  had  bolted  were  for- 
mall3r  deposed  by  resolution.  Stevens  declined 
to  consider  a  proposition  that  both  chairmen  re- 
sign and  permit  the  regularly  elected  committee- 
men  to  elect  a  successor.  He  denounced  the  al- 
leged senatorial  telegrams  as  forgeries,  and  insist- 
ed that  the  letter  from  the  Populist  above  referred 


STEVENS  LEAVES   THE   REPUBLICANS  255 

to  as  part  of  a  plot  for  his  political  ruin.  He 
then  announced  that  he  would  deliver  a  lecture 
in  which  he  would  expose  the  political  corrup- 
tions of  Denver  for  the  past  ten  years. 

The  condition  of  affairs  above  described  con- 
tinued but  a  short  time.  Mr.  Stevens,  after  a  few 
weeks,  formall}'  severed  his  connection  with  the 
organization  in  a  characteristic  letter  to  the  pa- 
pers, the  two  wing's  of  the  committee  came  to- 
gether, Goudy  resigned,  George  Graham  was 
elected  chairman,  and  once  more  harmony  pre- 
vailed in  the  ranks  of  the  Arapahoe  Republicans. 

On  October  9  Mr.  Stevens,  in  a  speech  delivered 
in  Denver,  called  the  Republican  part}7  to  account 
for  its  failure  to  deal  honestly  with  the  silver 
question,  and  retired  from  that  party  until  it 
should  change  its  course  in  this  respect.  It  can- 
not be  denied  that  he  took  advanced  ground  and 
sustained  his  position  by  liberal  quotations  from 
the  speeches  of  Senator  Teller.  Politically  how- 
ever, as  affecting  his  own  standing,  it  was  an  er- 
ror, as  it  gave  his  enemies  an  opportunity  for 
citing  his  own  action  in  proof  of  the  charges  pre- 
ferred against  him  -a  citation  that  was  not  weak- 
ened by  the  announcement  of  the  speaker  that 
he  would  thenceforth  abjure  partisan  politics. 

The  details  of  this  affair  have  been  given  be- 
cause, in  the  following  state  campaign  the  matter 
was  given  considerable  prominence  b}r  the  Pop- 
ulists. Mr.  Stevens  was  heralded  as  one  of  the 
principal  Republican  leaders  in  the  state,  and 
his  defection  was  used  in  the  attempt  to  show  the 
utter  and  hopeless  demoralization  of  that  party. 


£)6  TAR   AND  TAKSXEY 

Inasmuch  as  the  matter  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing- cards  of  Populist  orators  during  the  cam- 
paign, it  is  perhaps  as  well  to  refer  to  the  alleged 
Tarsney  outrage.  T.  J.  Tarsne}'  had  been  appoint- 
ed adjutant-general  of  the  state,  and  up  to  the 
summer  of  1894  had  not  quarreled  with  his  com- 
mander-in-chief.  It  was  b}*  his  advice  that  the 
cit}^  hall  war  was  inaugurated,  and  it  was  by  his 
orders  that  the  national  guard  had  been  so  post- 
ed that  in  the  event  of  a  conflict  the}-  would  have 
been  slaughtered  like  sheep  in  a  pen.  Immensely 
relieved  b}^  his  escape  from  the  awkward  and 
dangerous  situation  in  which  he  had  been  placed 
by  his  own  ignorance  and  foil}7,  he  hailed  with 
delight  the  outbreak  of  the  Cripple  Creek  affair, 
as  affording  him  an  opportunity  for  the  exercise 
of  his  peculiar  talents.  Ht  professed  to  be  an  at- 
torney, and  it  is  but  fair  to  admit  that  he  had  been 
admitted  to  the  bar,  though  the  probability  is 
that  his  knowledge  of  the  lines  of  defense  and  at- 
tack in  legal  matters  was  in  no  way  superior  to 
hi<  knowledge  of  military  strategy.  Upon  his 
arrival  with  his  army  at  Cripple  Creek,  he,  with 
cunning  tricker3r,  combined  his  two  professions. 
As  adjutant-general,  he  protected  his  friends,  the 
strikers,  from  the  bodily  harm  they  had  chal- 
lenged. As  Tarsne3*  the  attorney  he  proposed  to 
defend  them  from  the  legal  consequences  of  their 
unlawful  acts;  he  of  course  to  receive  a  reason- 
able fee  for  his  invaluable  services.  He  went  to 
Colorado  Springs,  and  rendered  himself  exceed- 
ingly and  unnecessarily  obnoxious.  As  a  result, 
if  his  story  is  to  be  taken  as  the  whole  truth,  he 


A   FEATHERY   MYSTERY  257 

was  taken  from  the  hotel  and  treated  to  a  feath- 
ered garment  more  close  fitting-  than  comfortable. 
As  the  tar  was  entirely  removed  from  his  person 
in  two  or  three  hours,  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
was  seriousl}'  damaged.  The  people  of  Colorado 
Springs  and  of  the  entire  state  denounced  the  act, 
but  it  was  good  Populist  powder  and  was  made 
the  most  of  during  the  campaign.  The  governor 
offered  a  reward  for  the  arrest  of  the  perpetrators 
and  the  grand  jur}^  of  El  Paso  county  took  up 
the  matter.  Tarsney  was  summoned  to  testify  in 
the  matter,  and  at  first  refused  to  go,  but  finally, 
in  obedience  to  peremptory  orders  from  the 
court,  went  down,  and  presented  himself  to  the 
astonished  court,  backed  by  an  escort  of  the  mili- 
tary, who  were  quickl}^  sent  to  the  right  about  by 
an  ordinary,  e  very-day  judge,  with  no  nonsense 
in  his  composition.  A  great  deal  of  talk  was 
made  about  the  matter.  Tarsney  professed  great 
eagerness  for  the  detection  of  the  perpetrators, 
and  made  one  trip  to  Missouri,  with  a  blare  of 
trumpets,  had  a  few  parties  arrested,  and  then, 
after  announcing'  that  he  had  the  men  all  spotted, 
dropped  the  case  and  allowed  the  accused  to  be 
discharged.  The  entire  transaction  appeared 
shady,  and  after  a  few  weeks  the  "Tarsney  out- 
rage" was  considered  more  of  a  joke  than  a  crime, 
knowing  winks  accompanying  its  discussion.  It 
was  certain  that  he  did  not  tar  and  feather  him- 
self, but  it  is  equally  certain  that  there  is  no 
probability  that  it  will  ever  be  known  who  did. 


THE  sto^  of  the  Waite  administration 
to^  in  the  preceding-  pages  affords  am- 
ple justification  for  the  attitude  of  the 
people  of  Colorado  at  the  beginning-  of  the  cam- 
paign of  1894.  The  state  had  for  16  years  been 
held  up  to  the  world  as  an  example  of  the  results 
of  intelligent  enterprise.  In  two  short  years, 
through  the  foll3T,  demagoguery,  and  intense 
egotism  of  one  man,  elected  by  the  people  when 
they  were  smarting  under  a  sense  of  the  injustice 
done  them  by  the  two  old  parties,  Colorado  had 
become  the  subject  of  ridicule  throughout  the 
civilized  world.  For  two  years  the  state  had  been 
in  a  turmoil,  and  one  ridiculous  quarrel  had  no 
sooner  been  settled  than  its  place  was  taken  by 
another.  This  quarrelsome  old  man  had  cost 
the  state,  by  his  disregard  of  the  commonest  prin- 
ciples governing  the  transactions  of  men  with 
each  other,  not  less  than  $200,(XK)  of  direct  outlay, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  indirect  losses  resulting 
from  his  total  lack  of  judgment,  and  selfish  meth- 
od of  using  the  machinery  of  the  state  as  a  per- 
sonal appanage.  The  people  of  Colorado  were 
tired  out.  They  had  been  patient  under  outrages 
that  warranted  violent  measures,  and  they  felt 
that  it  was  time  to  put  a  stop  to  the  foolish  va- 
garies that  had  controlled  the  affairs  of  the  com- 
monwealth. The  purpose  to  redeem  the  state 
crystallized  in  clubs  pledged  to  do  everything 


ORGANIZING  FOR  REDEMPTION  259 

possible  to  prevent  the  election  of  a  second  Popu- 
list ticket,  and  the  "Redeemers,"  given  the  title  in 
derision,  were  earnest  in  their  labors,  which  bore 
ample  fruit.  It  was  felt  to  be  necessary  that  ever}- 
man  should  do  his  duty  in  this  particular,  and 
there  has  never  been  a  campaign  in  Colorado  in 
which  the  conservative,  honest  men  of  the  state 
were  more  thoroughly  united  in  the  effort  to  do 
the  state  good  service  by  the  defeat  of  Populism, 
and  the  consequent  discontinuance  of  misrule, 
disorder,  and  disregard  of  law. 

The  condition  of  affairs  in  the  several  counties 
which  had  given  heavy  majorities  for  Waite  in 
1892,  was  somewhat  remarkable.  The  Populists 
were' arrogant,  offensive,  and  sometimes  brutal  in 
their  treatment  of  Republicans.  Waite  was  their 
idol,  and  his  anarchistic  tendencies  were  extolled 
as  the  very  highest  expression  of  patriotic  states- 
manship. His  interference  with  the  machinery 
of  the  courts,  and  his  attempt  to  execute  his  will 
at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  were  regarded  as  en- 
tirely proper,  and  those  who  dared  to  denounce 
these  usurpations  of  power  were  pronounced 
"gold  bugs,"  "bloated  bond-holders,"  "Shylocks," 
etc.,  and  declared  to  be  unfit  to  enjo}^  the  privil- 
eges of  American  citizenship.  Republicans  were 
bullied  and  threatened;  the  few  newspapers  that 
dared  tell  the  truth  were  abused  and  threatened 
with  mobbing,  and  it  was  announced  that  Repub- 
lican orators  would  not  be  permitted  to  speak,  in 
the  event  of  Waite  being  renominated.  In  the 
majority  of  these  Populist  strongholds,  mainl}* 
in  the  southern  and  western  part  of  the  state,  Re- 


260  POPULIST   METHODS 

publicans  were  silent,  either  from  motives  of  fear 
or  business  prudence,  as  there  was  no  hesitation 
on  the  part  of  the  Populists  to  advocate  a  boycott 
of  Republican  business  men.  In  one  county  at 
least  the  member  of  the  Republican  state  com- 
mittee reported  that  it  was  not  probable  that  a 
delegation  would  attend  the  state  convention, 
and  that  the  sentiment  of  the  few  Republicans  in 
his  county  was  averse  to  the  nomination  of  a 
county  ticket,  favoring-  rather  a  coalition  through 
which  the  Republicans  might  be  able  to  secure 
one  or  two  of  the  county  offices,  but  wae  opposed 
to  an}T  open  fight  for  fear  of  antagonising  the 
Populist  element  which  might  be  induced  to  as- 
sist in  the  scheme.  In  another  county  the  Popu- 
lists were  blatant  in  proclaiming  their  political 
faith  at  the  street  corners,  and  challenging  any 
expression  of  sentiment  \yy  Republicans.  A  dis- 
cussion with  a  Republican  invariably  drew  a 
throng  of  jeering,  ill-natured,  bullying  Populists, 
who  endeavored  to  prevent  any  expression  from 
the  Republican.  As  a  rule  the  Democrats  were 
inclined  to  support  the  Populists,  or  kept  silence. 
In  the  first  county  mentioned,  the  Republicans 
were  with  difficulty'  induced  to  send  a  delegation 
to  the  convention,  but  the3r  did  so  and  eventually 
nominated  a  ticket,  which,  though  defeated,  car- 
ried a  respectable  vote,  thus  demonstrating  that 
though  the  Republican  party  might  be  asleep  it 
was  by  no  means  dead,  even  in  the  darkest  Kgypt 
of  Populism.  In  the  second  county  named  a  few 
determined  Republicans  took  up  the  cudgels  for 
their  party,  forced  discussion  with  the  Populists, 


REPUBLICANS    REORGANIZE  261 

and  long*  before  the  conventions  of  either  party 
met,  had  compelled  them  by  sheer  force  of  ar- 
gument and  courage,  backed  by  an  assumed  in- 
solence borrowed  from  their  antagonists,  to  con- 
fine their  threats,  etc.,  to  mutterings  and  scowls. 
Of  course  silver  was  the  burden  of  their  song1, 
and  men  who  could  not  explain  the  meaning  of 
the  ratio  did  not  hesitate  to  attempt  an  exposi- 
tion of  the  entire  silver  question?  In  these  coun- 
ties the  professional  office  seekers,  Republicans 
and  Democrats  alike,  were  found  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Populists,  and  as  a  rule  managed  the  party 
conventions  and  secured  places  on  the  ticket 
when  the}r  could,  which,  fortunately  for  the  tax- 
payers, was  but  seldom. 

It  may  be  imagined  that  Hon.  Irving  Howbert, 
when  he  accepted  the  chairmanship  of  the  state 
committee,  found  himself  with  an  almost  hercul- 
ean task  on  his  hands.  The  party  all  over  the 
state  seemed  to  require  complete  reorganization, 
and  as  he  had  assumed  the  management  of  the 
canvass  prior  to  the  holding  of  the  state  conven- 
tion, his  first  task  was  the  discovery  of  the  prob- 
able strength  of  the  part}^  in  the  state— whether 
it  had  gained  or  lost  since  the  campaign  of  1892. 
Thanks  to  the  thorough  work  of  the  committee 
in  this  direction,  it  was  soon  demonstrated  that 
the  Republican  party  was  ready  for  victory 
with  the  right  kind  of  a  ticket,  and  to  this  end 
the  efforts  of  Republicans  all  over  the  state  were 
directed. 

The  Democrats  were  without  hope.  Many  of 
them^advocated  the  plan  of  making  no  state  nom- 


I46U  WAITE  RUXS  THE  POPULISTS 

inations,  and  voting-  the  Republican  ticket;  others 
could  not  accept  this  proposition,  but  urged  the 
nomination  of  a  full  state  ticket;  a  few— very  few 
—favored  fusion  with  the  Populists.  After  many 
consultations  with  the  leaders  all  over  the  state, 
it  was  finally  decided  that  the  party  should  main- 
tain its  organization,  and  nominate  a  ticket. 

Of  all  the  parties  in  the  state  the  Populists 
were  in  the  most  peculiar  situation.  Their  chief 
whom  one  enthusiastic  }roung  man  called  "  that 
grand  old  anarchist/'  had  set  the  rank  and  file  an 
example  of  insubordination  that  they  were  not 
slow  to  follow.  Governor  Waite  bent  every  ener- 
gy to  secure  his  own  renomination.  He  seemed 
to  imagine  that  being  the  governor,  the  entire 
machine^  of  the  party  should  be  under  his  con- 
trol, and  would  not  tolerate  any  expression  of 
opinion  contrary  to  his  own.  The  county  com- 
mittee of  Arapahoe  county  was  supposed  to  be 
opposed  to  his  nomination;  he  scolded  them 
as  if  they  were  a  parcel  of  boys.  Some  of  the 
leading  Populists  of  the  state  questioned  the 
propriety  of  selecting  him  as  the  standard 
bearer;  his  expletives  were  worthy  of  a  Bill- 
ingsgate fish-wife.  He  permitted  no  dissension 
from  his  views,  and  the  Waite  followers  of  Arap- 
ahoe count3r  organized  what  they  called  the 
•'Ironclads/'  solid  for  Waite  under  any  and  all 
circumstances,  under  which  the  most  shameful 
and  unheard  of  robbe^  of  cit}^  emplo3^es  was 
carried  out  under  the  guise  of  political  assess- 
ments. The  struggle  between  the  Waite  and  an- 
ti-Waite  factions  was  scandalous  even  to  the  Pop- 


POPULIST   PRIMARIES  263 

ulist  party,  Their  party  primaries  for  Arapahoe 
county  were  held  on  August  29  and  developed  a 
fiercer,  more  bitter  antagonism  than  was  ever  be- 
fore known  in  the  political  history  of  the  state. 
Daily  and  nightly  the  two  factions  held  meetings 
for  the  purpose  of  devising  ways  and  means  for 
the  defeat  of  the  other  fellows.  The  govern- 
or had  the  advantage.  His  opponents  were 
largely  composed  of  soreheads,  who  had  earned 
the  right  to  put  a  finger  in  the  public  pie 
but  had  not  been  given  the  opportunity,  and  re- 
ceived the  sympathy  of  none,  while  Waite  was  as 
thoroughly  equipped  as  the  Knight  of  La  Man- 
cha,  and  had  been  equally  fortunate  in  his  tilts 
with  the  windmills  of  his  party.  Every  office 
holder  was  required  to  spend  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  in  electioneering  for  Waite,  while  the 
party  machinery  was  kept  in  motion  and  well 
greased  with  the  supplies  obtained  by  the  volun- 
tary contributions  of  the  laborers  who  had  been 
given  employment  through  the  Populist  board 
of  public  works  of  the  city  of  Denver.  But  the 
governor  was  by  no  means  permitted  to  have  a 
walk-over.  The  opposition  to  his  nomination  in- 
cluded nearly  all  the  elements  of  respectability 
of  which  the  party  could  boast.  E.  H.  Holden,  T. 
M.  Patterson,  J.  Warner  Mills  and  others  earnestly 
tried  to  redeem  the  party  from  what  they  did  not 
hesitate  to  characterize  as  the  disgrace  of  Waite- 
ism.  The  News  was  outspoken  in  its  demand  that 
he  should  be  shelved,  and,  aided  by  the  county 
committee  of  Arapahoe  county,  the  opposition 
seemed  to  have  a  nucleus  which  was  far  from  fa- 


264  ARAPAHOE  POPULIST    CONVENTION 

vorablefor  the  Governor's  chances.  But  the  Gov- 
ernor was  invincible.  At  the  Arapahoe  county- 
primaries  the  police  and  fire  department,  of  which 
he  now  had  absolute  control,  worked  openly  for 
the  Waite  ticket,  and  resorted  to  the  most  desper- 
ate measures  to  insure  success.  If  the  stories  of 
the  anti-Waite  leaders  are  to  be  believed,  the 
most  outrageous  frauds  were  perpetrated.  Re- 
peating, ballot-box-stuffing,  terrorism,  and  every 
dishonest  scheme  known  to  the  manipulators  of 
party  primaries,  was  put  in  practice,  and  the 
vilest  scenes  ever  recorded  in  Colorado  were  en- 
acted. When  the  county  convention  met  on  Sep- 
tember 1  the  Waite  faction  was  in  the  majority, 
but  their  antagonists  were  very  much  in  sight, 
and  made  up  in  vigor  what  they  lacked  in  num- 
bers. Several  times  the  two  factions  came  within 
n  fraction  of  a  pitched  battle.  About  one-third  of 
the  delegates  were  women,  and  it  is  possible  that 
this  fact  had  something  to  do  with  the  ultimate 
preservation  of  the  peace,  though  on  several  oc- 
casions it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  prevent 
bloodshed.  The  police  department  was  again 
conspicuous,  and  was  the  most  aggressive  of  the 
Waite  followers.  The  contending  factions  jostled 
each  other,  shook  their  fists  in  each  others  faces, 
called  names  and  generally  illustrated  the  Oma- 
ha platform  until,  on  the  second  day  of  the  con- 
vention, the  Waite  men  won,  and  selected  a  Waite 
delegation  to  the  state  convention.  The  anti- 
Waite  following  bolted,  149delegates  seceding  and 
electing  a  contesting  delegation. 

While  Waite  was  in  the  heat  of  the  turmoil  con- 


THE  LIKENS  AFFAIR  263 

sequent  upon  his  efforts  to  secure  a  majority  of 
his  state  convention,  an  incident  occurred  which, 
while  perhaps  unimportant  from  a  political  stand- 
point, still  further  increased  the  disgust  at  the 
Populist  administration,  and  served  as  a  text  for 
campaign  orators.  Mrs.  Likens  had  for  years, 
under  several  different  administrations,  been  the 
matron  of  the  Denver  police  station.  She  was 
universally  regarded  as  peculiarly  fitted  for  this 
trying-  position,  and  had  certainly  done  much 
good  to  that  large  class  of  female  prisoners  who 
were  more  sinned  against  than  sinning.  But  Mrs. 
Likens  was  not  a  Populist,  and  a  howl  arose  from 
the  Ironclads  for  her  removal.  After  suffering  a 
number  of  inclig'nities  such  as  made  her  position 
extremely  distasteful,  she  was  fmall3r  removed. 
But  the  ladies  of  Denver  knew  something  of  Mrs. 
Likens  and  her  noble  work,  and  indignant  pro- 
tests were  not  wanting.  Then  it  occurred  to  those 
responsible  for  her  removal  that  some  better  rea- 
son than  mere  partisanship  must  be  given  for  the 
change.  A  friend  of  Mrs.  Likens  had  advertised 
for  a  position  as  housekeeper  and  directed  replies 
to  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Likens.  A  letter  came,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Police  Matron  on  the  envelope,  and 
to  Mrs.  Likens  in  person  on  the  inside.  The  mat- 
ter of  the  reply  was  construed  by  the  corrupt  eyes 
that  beheld  it,  as  containing  an  improper  pro- 
posal, and  because  some  man  in  Pueblo  had  writ- 
ten a  letter  to  a  middle-aged  lad}^  with  grown 
children,  capable  of  bearing  such  a  construction, 
the  letter  was  hawked  about  with  all  the  nods  and 
winks  and  leers  that  are  common  in  such  cases, 


2(5f)  POPULIST  STATE   CONVENTION 

as  affording-  proof  of  the  immoral  character  of 
the  lad}T,  and  the  consequent  reason  for  her  dis- 
charge. But  in  not  promptly  returning-  the  let- 
ter to  the  owner  the  party  became  amenable  to 
the  postal  laws,  and  were  all  arrested,  including 
Governor  Waite,  who  was  not  ashamed  to  ac- 
knowledge that  he  had  read  a  private  letter,  and 
though  he  knew  that  it  should  have  been  imme- 
diatel}T  returned  to  its  owner,  neglected  to  direct 
this  to  be  done.  The  incident  caused  almost  uni- 
versal comment,  by  no  means  favorable  to  those 
guilty  of  so  gross  a  breach  of  decency. 

It  is  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  Populist 
convention  of  1894  or  the  Democratic  convention 
of  1892,  bore  off  the  palm  for  disgraceful  rioting 
and  indecent  disregard  for  the  privileges  of  de- 
bate. The  state  convention  met  at  Pueblo  on  Sep- 
tember 4,  and  it  was  found  that  Waite  had  secur- 
ed the  convention  beyond  all  question.  The  con- 
testing delegation  from  Arapahoe  county  put  in 
an  appearance,  and  insisted  on  having  its  claims 
considered  by  the  convention.  The  scenes  that 
occurred  during  the  first  day  of  the  convention 
were  indescribable,  and  defied  the  skill  of  the 
most  experienced  reporter.  There  was  no  sem- 
blance of  order.  Delegates  wrangled,  applied 
disgusting  epithets  to  each  other,  tangled  them- 
selves up  in  utter  defiance  of  all  parliamentar}- 
practice,  howled,  shook  their  fists  and  danced 
like  dervishes,  until  the  hall  was  converted  into 
pandemonium,  and  the  scene  resembled  nothing 
so  much  as  the  witches  sabbath,  or  the  unhol}' 
revels  observed  by  Tarn  O'Shanter.  The  Arapa- 


PANDEMONIUM   BROKE  LOOSE  267 

hoe  contestants,  composed  in  the  main  of  men 
who  were  capable  of  self  control,  and  led  03-  T. 
X.  Patterson,  was  the  object  of  universal  atten- 
tion and  execration.  It  was  fiercely  denovinced 
by  wild-ej^ed  orators  from  all  parts  of  the  state, 
and  finally  one  enthusiastic  admirer  of  Waite, 
drunk  with  excitement,  and  bearing-  a  portrait  of 
the  g-overnor,  made  his  way  through  the  press 
and  penetrated  the  ranks  of  the  contestants,  wav- 
the  portrait  and  yelling  defiance  to  his  opponents. 
This  was  more  than  the  contestants  could  bear. 
Blows  were  given  and  returned,  and  in  a  moment 
the  portrait  was  the  center  of  a  seething*  mass  of 
struggling  men,  while  from  all  parts  of  the  hall 
the  adherents  of  the  governor  rushed  to  the  scene 
intent  upon  the  rescue  of  the  portrait  from  the 
hands  of  his  enemies.  The  portrait  escaped  seri- 
ous damage,  however,  and  after  a  time  the  sem- 
blance of  order  was  restored,  and  the  convention 
proceeded  in  its  peculiar  way  to  the  transaction 
of  its  business.  The  contest  was  over  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  committee  on  credentials,  the 
anti- Waite  following-  hoping-  to  secure  some  rep- 
resentative on  the  committee,  and  thus  pave  the 
way  for  a  minority  report,  and  a  discussion  of  the 
merits  of  the  Arapahoe  controversy  on  the  floor 
of  the  convention.  In  this  however  they  were 
unsuccessful.  Their  claims  to  representation  on 
the  committee  were  entirely  disregarded,  the  ma- 
jority being-  determined  to  have  harmon}^  in  their 
own  way,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty, 
and  onl}^  after  the  most  strenuous  exertions,  that 
the  contestants  secured  a  hearing  before  the  coin- 


268  THE  CONTESTANTS   OUSTED 

mittee.  The  pleadings  before  the  committee  were 
masterly  presentations  of  the  corruption  and  in- 
decent disregard  for  law  or  common  fairness  that 
had  characterized  the  party  primaries  in  Arapa- 
hoe  count}^,  but  availed  nothing1.  The  committee 
knew  that  the3^  were  expected  to  render  Waite's 
nomination  a  certainty,  and  were  not  disposed  to 
permit  any  discussion  of  the  merits  of  the  propo- 
sition on  the  floor  of  the  convention.  The  com- 
mittee unanimously  agreed  to  exclude  the  con- 
testants. 

The  committee's  report  was  presented  on  the 
following  clay,  and  by  some  parliamentary  ma- 
euver  a  minority  report  was  brought  into  the 
convention.  It  was  greeted  with  3rells,  shrieks  of 
derision,  laughter,  and  roars  of  anger.  Mr.  Pat- 
terson made  his  way  to  the  platform,  and  an  at- 
tempt was  made  by  the  chairman  to  put  him  off. 
He  held  his  ground,  however,  while  scores  of 
willing  instruments  of  the  convention's  t\'ranny 
tried  to  reach  the  platform  and  assist  in  dragging 
the  plucky  advocate  therefrom.  Denunciation, 
vituperation  and  abuse,  all  directed  at  the  man 
who,  two  years  before,  had  made  the  election  of 
\Vaite  possible,  resounded  from  all  parts  of  the 
hall.  The  spectators  took  up  the  refrain,  and  for 
several  minutes  nothing  could  be  distinguished 
bearing  the  slightest  resemblance  to  articulation. 
Meanwhile  Mr.  Patterson  held  his  ground  with  a 
tenacity  against  which  the  maddened  throng  was 
powerless,  frequently  taking  advantage  of  a  tem- 
porary lull  to  attempt  the  delivery  of  his  re- 
marks, only  to  be  howled  into  silence.  Finally, 


DEMOCRATIC  STATE  CONVENTION  269 

ashamed  of  the  disgraceful  refusal  to  listen  to 
argument,  some  delegate  gained  a  hearing  long- 
enough  for  a  motion  that  Mr.  Patterson  be  per- 
mitted to  speak.  The  motion  was  lost,  but  the 
chair,  in  pure  shame,  declared  it  carried,  and  Mr. 
Patterson  commenced  to  speak.  In  less  than  a 
minute,  however,  the  uproar  re-commenced,  and 
again  the  convention  was  converted  into  an  as- 
semblage, compared  with  which  a  congregation 
of  howling  monkeys  in  the  forest  of  the  Amazon 
are  the  sweetest  of  singers.  Mr.  Patterson,  with 
all  his  well  known  determination,  was  compelled 
to  desist.  The  tactics  that  had  been  used  with 
such  effect  against  Republican  speakers  in  the 
previous  campaign  had  been  used  against  him- 
self, and  he  was  forced  to  acknowledge  defeat  and 
retire  from  the  stage.  The  turbulent  course  of 
Governor  Wait's  administration  was  fitly  exem- 
plified by  the  convention  which  assembled  near 
its  close  for  the  purpose  of  renominating  him. 
He  was  nominated  by  acclamation. 

Whil£  these  scenes  were  transpiring  in  Pueb- 
lo, the  Democrats  of  the  state,  a  forlorn  hope  in- 
deed, but  determined  to  maintain  their  party  or- 
ganization were  engaged  in  the  effort  to  unite  the 
two  factions  of  the  party  for  a  vigorous  and  ag- 
gressive canvass.  There  was  no  hope  of  the  elec- 
tion of  their  ticket,  but  they  could  at  least  enter 
their  protest  against  the  continuation  of  Waite- 
ism  while  maintaining  the  organization  of  the 
party.  On  September  8,  both  the  Silver  Demo- 
crats and  the  straight  Democrats,  or  "White 
Wings  "  held  their  conventions  in  Denver.  Each 


270  SENATORIAL 

convention  appointed  a  committee  of  conference 
on  the  terms  of  union,  and  the  consolidation  of 
the  party  was  effected  with  little  friction.  The 
result  was  cheered  to  the  echo  by  the  reunited 
political  family,  and  a  ticket  was  named  with  C. 
S.  Thomas  as  the  candidate  for  governor. 

The  Republican  campaign  was  conducted  as 
well  to  insure  the  re-election  of  Senator  Wolcott 
as  to  redeem  the  state  from  Populism.  Even  be- 
fore the  meeting-  of  the  State  convention  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Republican  state  ticket  was  consid- 
ered certain.  The  disgust  at  the  manner  in 
which  the  affairs  of  the  state  had  been  adminis- 
tered by  the  Populists  was  so  general  that  it  was 
almost  a  foregone  conclusion  that  with  respecta- 
ble candidates  on  the  state  ticket  the  Republicans 
would  win.  The  legislature  was  by  no  means  so 
certain,  and  it  was  felt  to  be  necessa^  to  make 
the  most  strenuous  exertions  to  prevent  the  Pop- 
ulists from  controlling  the  general  assembly. 
While  there  were  many  Republicans  to  whom, 
for  many  reasons,  Senator  Wolcott  would  have 
been  objectionable  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances, it  was  considered  that  in  the  present  sta- 
tus of  the  silver  question  in  congress,  the  inter- 
ests of  Colorado  demanded  the  return  of  Wolcott, 
both  on  account  of  his  services  to  the  silver 
cause,  and  because,  b}^  his  election  on  the  distinct 
issue  of  those  services,  the  position  of  Colorado 
on  the  question  of  free  coinage  would  be  clearly 
demonstrated  to  the  people  of  the  east.  Conse- 
quently, Republican  candidates  for  the  legisla- 
ture, with  few  exceptions,  made  the  canvass  with 


ARAPAHOE  REPUBLICAN  MOVEMENTS          271 

the  clear  understanding-  that  if  elected  they 
would  vote  for  Wolcott  to  succeed  himself.  This 
feeling  however,  was  by  no  means  so  general  as 
to  prevent  any  opposition  to  Wolcott.  The  anti- 
Wolcott  faction  in  Arapahoe  county  was  still 
strong  and  active,  but  Mr.  Wolcott  was  fortunate 
in  the  fact  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  con- 
centrate this  opposition  upon  an  acceptable  man. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  appreciation  of  Wol- 
cott's  brilliant  work  during  the  extra  session  of 
congress  was  not  without  a  favorable  effect  upon 
the  canvass  for  the  state  ticket. 

In  Arapahoe  county  considerable  feeling  was 
created  among  the  women  voters  by  the  action  of 
the  Republican  county  committee  in  seeming  to 
wish  to  deprive  them  of  their  full  rights  of  rep- 
resentation upon  the  committee  and  in  the  party 
convention.  Chairman  Howbert  of  the  state 
committee,  had  recommended  the  selection  of  a 
woman  associate  for  each  precinct  committee- 
man,  but  for  some  reason  there  were  objections 
to  this  plan  in  Arapahoe  county,  and  a  heated 
discussion  arose  in  which  the  press  sided  with 
the  women.  The  stereotyped  cry  of  "gang"  was 
raised,  and  the  organization  of  a  "business  men's 
league"  in  Denver,  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
control  of  the  party  convention,  was  followed  by 
a  union  of  interests  between  the  league  and  the 
organization  of  women  voters.  The  primaries 
were  held  on  September  6,  and  the  consolidated 
women  and  business  men  secured  a  majority  of 
the  delegates,  which,  while  not  large,  was  suffi- 
ciently well  organized  to  give  them  control  of  the 


272  REPUBLICAN  STATE  CONVENTION 

convention.  On  September  8  the  count}"  conven- 
tion met,  nominated  an  exceptionally  good  ticket, 
instructed  the  nominees  for  the  legislature  to 
vote  for  Wolcott  for  United  States  senator,  and 
selected  a  delegation  to  the  state  convention. 

When  the  state  convention  met  in  Denver  on 
September  11,  it  was  with  an  air  of  confidence 
that  of  itself  went  far  toward  an  assurance  of  vie- 
tor}7.  There  was  no  other  sentiment  than  an  ear- 
nest desire  to  secure  the  nomination  of  men  who 
would  be  able  to  win.  A  strong-  fight  for  leader- 
ship in  the  gubernatorial  race  had  been  made  in 
Arapahoe  count}',  with  W.  G.  Smith,  formerly 
lieutenant-governor,  and  J.  C.  Helm  in  opposition. 
Each  candidate  had  a  strong  following  in  the  out- 
side counties,  and  on  the  day  before  the  conven- 
tion it  was  difficult  to  determine  which  was  the 
strongest.  Beside  these  two,  A.  W.  Mclntire,  of 
Conejos,  J.  L.  Brush,  of  Weld,  and  Irving  How- 
bert,  of  El  Paso,  \vere  in  the  race,  each  with  more 
or  less  of  a  following. 

It  had  for  some  time  been  the  understanding 
among  many  of  the  party  leaders  that  a  strong 
effort  should  be  made  to  secure  the  nomination 
of  Judge  Helm,  but  a  short  time  before  tbe  meet- 
of  the  convention  it  was  discovered  that  he  was 
not  satisfactory  to  some  of  the  most  important 
influences  in  the  party,  and  his  chief  supporters 
were  given  plainly  to  understand  that  the  effort 
to  nominate  Helm  would  be  vigorously  opposed. 
This  announcement  was  not  received  with  cordi- 
ality by  Judge  Helm's  following,  especially  as 
some  of  the  parties  now  opposing  him  had  only 


THE   GUBERNATORIAL  CONTEST  273 

a  short  time  before  been  among  his  supporters. 
But  it  was  recognized  at  once  that  the  defection 
was  sufficientl}'  serious  to  render  Helm's  nomi- 
nation not  onl}^  problematical  but  absolutely  im- 
possible. 

The  opposition  to  Helm  was  generally  concen- 
trated upon  Irving  Howbert  as  the  nominee,  but 
was  not  seconded  to  any  great  degree  by  How- 
bert himself.  There  were  several  reasons  why 
Howbert  would  not  come  before  the  convention, 
chief  among  which  was  his  own  disinclination. 
He  had  been  urged  over  and  over  by  Republi- 
cans from  all  parts  of  the  state  to  accept  the  nom- 
ination, and  uniformly  declined,  it  being  under- 
stood that  beside  his  personal  objections,  he  did 
not  wish  to  in  any  way  interfere  with  the  aspira- 
tions of  Judge  Campbell  to  a  nomination  for  the 
supreme  bench,  both  gentlemen  hailing1  from  El 
Paso  county.  But  firm  as  was  Mr.  Howbert  in 
his  refusal  to  consider  the  matter  of  his  candida- 
C3T,  his  friends  were  equall}^  firm  in  the  deter- 
mination that  he  should  be  the  nominee.  Strong- 
ly influencing  this  determination  was  the  fact 
that  Howbert  had  no  senatorial  aspirations, 
while  it  was  feared,  with  some  degree  of  reason, 
that  some  of  the  other  candidates  might  be  af- 
fected in  that  direction.  There  was  no  question 
of  Howbert's  popularity.  Had  his  name  been 
presented  to  the  convention  with  his  full  consent 
the  chances  are  about  even  that  he  would  have 
been  nominated  by  acclamation.  But  though 
earnest  efforts  were  made  to  induce  him  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination,  up  to  a  late  hour  of  the 


274  THE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONTEST 

night  before  the  convention  they  were  unsuc- 
cessful. 

W.  G.  Smith  had  every  reason  to  expect  the 
support  of  a  large  part  of  the  Arapahoe  delega- 
tion, and  had  a  considerable  following  in  the 
northern  counties,  but  like  Helm  he  was  unsatis- 
factory to  some  of  the  leaders  of  the  part}7,  and 
on  the  da}'  before  the  convention  was  astonished 
to  learn  that  the  larger  part  of  his  forces  had  de- 
serted him  on  the  eve  of  the  final  contest. 

J.  L.  Brush  had  earned  the  nomination,  and  if 
political  conventions  were  in  the  habit  of  being 
influenced  by  such  considerations,  was  in  many 
respects  the  logical  candidate,  but  in  his  off-hand, 
large-hearted  manner,  announced  that  he  must 
not  be  considered  in  the  way  of  anything  that 
might  benefit  the  party. 

A  tentative  effort  on  the  part  of  his  many 
friends  to  create  a  sentiment  in  favor  of  J.  M. 
Maxwell  was  a  failure. 

A.  W.  Mclntire,  early  in  the  canvass  for  the 
nominations,  had  no  higher  ambition  than  the 
bench  of  the  twelfth  judicial  district,  but  local 
political  interests  proved  a  bar  to  his  aspirations 
in  this  direction,  and  at  the  solicitations  of  his 
friends  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  gubernato- 
rial nomination.  He  was  not  sanguine  of  success, 
however,  and  doubtless  the  trend  of  events  in  his 
direction  was  as  much  of  a  surprise  to  himself  as 
to  the  partisans  of  the  other  candidates. 

There  was  a  strong  feeling  against  Helm  and 
Smith  among  the  southern  delegates,  on  the 
grounds  that  while  the  former  had  the  prestige 


THE  GUBERNATORIAL  CONTEST  275 

of  defeat  against  him,  the  latter  was  entirely  un- 
known in  that  section  of  the  state,  and  it  was 
thought  that  the  nominee  should  be  a  man  who 
could  at  least  carry  some  of  the  southern  coun- 
ties, as,  judging  from  the  conditions  in  their  own 
section,  they  were  by  no  means  sanguine  of  vic- 
tor}r.  They  vigorous^  opposed  the  two  gentle- 
men named,  therefore,  but  had  little  or  no  influ- 
ence in  causing  their  defeat.  The}7  were  defeated 
by  other  and  much  more  potent  influences  than 
the  opposition  of  a  handful  of  delegates  from  the 
Populist  strongholds. 

Smith  and  Helm  having  been  set  aside,  and 
Brush  having  voluntarily  retired,  it  became  ap- 
parent that  Howbert  or  Mclntire  would  be  the 
nominee.  The  friends  of  Helm  were  not  feeling 
very  pleasant  over  the  defeat  of  their  man,  and 
were  therefore  not  inclined  to  accept  Howbert  at 
the  dictation  of  the  interests  which  had  forced 
Helm  out  of  the  race.  If  the  sentiment  of  the 
convention  could  be  concentrated  upon  Howbert 
in  sufficient  strength  he  might  have  felt  com- 
pelled to  accept  as  a  political  dut}^  and  to  pre- 
vent such  a  concentration  was  the  work  cut  out 
for  the  leaders  whose  preferences  had  been  dis- 
regarded. The3r  were  successful..  Howbert  could 
not  be  induced  to  accept  unless  the  convention 
was  practically  unanimous  for  him,  and  the  op- 
position took  good  care  to  render  that  event 
impossible.  In  this  wa}^  Mclntire  fell  heir  to  the 
nomination  with  scarcely  an  effort  on  his  part. 
He  was  the  only  one  left  upon  whom  the  oppos- 
ing factions  could  unite,  and  the  condition  of  af- 


'^/(5  McINTIKE  NOMINATED. 

fairs  which  made  his  nomination  possible  was 
the  result  of  the  shrewdest  work  against  appa- 
rently overwhelming-  odds  that  was  ever  done  in 
a  Colorado  Republican  convention. 

Helm,  on  finding  himself  defeated,  was  in  fa- 
vor of  Howbert,  but  found  no  opportunity-  for 
corning  to  an  understanding  with  him,  and  late 
on  the  night  before  the  convention,  Helm  and 
Smith  made  a  virtue  of  necessit}r  and  withdrew, 
the  Howbert  interest  threw  up  the  sponge,  and 
when  the  convention  met  in  the  morning  there 
was  nothing  left  for  it  to  do  but  nominate  Mcln- 
tire  by  acclamation. 

The  other  places  on  the  ticket  were  filled  with 
but  little  friction,  though  for  nearly  all  of  the 
places  there  were  sharp  contests.  When  the  con- 
vention assembled  it  was  said  a  slate  had  been 
prepared.  If  this  was  the  case  the  close  of  the 
proceedings  left  nothing  of  the  slate  but  its  shat- 
tered fragments.  With  the  big  delegation  from 
Arapahoe  hopelessly  divided,  and  the  result  of 
the  gubernatorial  contest  rendering  impossible 
all  previous  combinations,  a  slate  was  wofully 
out  of  place,  and  the  result  was  a  ticket  which 
was  eminently  representative,  and  in  every  re- 
spect one  that  would  draw  the  full  strength  of 
the  party. 

In  the  congressional  conventions  John  F.  Sha- 
froth  was  nominated  in  the  first  district  and  Hon. 
Thomas  M.  Bowen  in  the  second. 

No  time  was  lost  by  any  part}r  in  the  com- 
mencement of  active  campaign  work.  The  Popu- 
lists were  in  the  field  early  and  late.  With  a  cloud 


THE  CAMPAIGN  INAUGURATED  277 

of  alleged  orators  anxious  to  win  a  footing1  in  the 
councils  of  the  party,  an  atmosphere  of  discon- 
tent with  the  prevailing  condition  of  affairs  to 
aid  them,  and  throngs  of  men  who  had  nothing 
to  do,  the3^  had  an  apparentl3r  easy  task.  Their 
speakers  were  attended  by  immense  audiences  in 
every  part  of  the  state.  Waite  was  especially  fa- 
vored in  this  respect.  His  progress  through  the 
state  was  an  ovation.  Men  and  women  flocked  to 
see  and  hear  the  man  who  had  been  more  talked 
about,  more  mercilessl3r  criticised  and  more 
roundly  abused  than  any  man  in  the  country. 
And  he  was  not  disappointing.  He  talked  to  the 
people  whose  votes  he  asked  exactly  as  he  had 
acted  during  his  administration.  He  was  tireless 
in  his  denunciation  of  capital  and  fulsome  in  his 
eulogies  upon  labor.  He  denounced  the  crime  of 
1873  as  if  he  had  been  the  original  discoverer  of 
that  serious  political  error,  and  wherever  he 
spoke  he  left  men  behind  him  who  were  certain 
that  nothing  would  ever  have  been  done  for  silver 
had  it  not  been  for  Davis  H.  Waite.  Such  great 
throngs  attended  the  Populist  meetings  in  the 
larger  cities  where  it  was  announced  that  Waite 
would  speak,  that  many  Republicans  became 
alarmed,  and  judging  from  superficial  appear- 
ances, imagined  that  these  great  outpourings  in- 
dicated a  more  sweeping  Populist  triumph  than 
two  3rears  before.  But  this  was  a  year  for  big 
meetings.  So  man3^  things  had  occurred  during 
the  previous  two  3^ears  that  entered  into  the  dis- 
cussions of  the  campaign  that  public  curiosity 
was  excited  as  to  the  methods  of  treatment  by 


278  POPULIST  TACTICS 

the  different  speakers,  and  Mr.  Thomas,  whose 
vote  was  less  than  10  per  cent,  of  the  total  vote  of 
the  state,  was  attended  by  crowds  but  very  little 
smaller  than  those  which  attended  the  meetings 
of  his  opponents. 

In  the  Egypt  of  Populism, — the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state — it  had  been  intended  to  pursue 
similar  tactics  to  those  of  two  }rears  before — the 
breaking  up  of  Republican  meeting's  by  hooting 
the  speakers,  packing  the  halls,  and  similar 
methods  adopted  by  those  who  fear  to  hear  the 
truth.  One  or  two  efforts  in  this  direction,  how- 
ever, convinced  the  projectors  of  such  proceed- 
ings that  it  would  not  do,  that  the  time  had  passed 
when  bulging  would  be  effective,  that  Republi- 
cans had  recovered  from  the  dread  of  an  unknown 
force,  and  having  measured  the  new  party  were 
not  disposed  to  sit  quietl}-  down  and  submit  to 
the  insolence  of  ignorance  and  the  arrogance  of 
an  assunTed  power.  Few  interruptions  of  politi- 
cal meetings  occurred,  and  these  were  so  swiftly 
and  sternl}-  rebuked  by  the  speakers,  by  the  au- 
dience, and  by  the  press,  that  the  custom  fell  into 
innocuous  desuetude  long  before  the  close  of  the 
campaign. 

No  political  campaign  of  Colorado  was  ever 
so  earnestly  contested.  Scarcely  a  hamlet  in  the 
state  but  was  visited  by  one  or  more  of  the  sev- 
eral part}'  orators,  and  in  few  did  the  effort  to 
stir  up  popular  feeling  fail.  One  prominent 
Democrat  startled  the  state  b}^  taking  the  stump 
for  the  Republican  ticket,  a  thing  before  unheard 
of  in  partisan  politics,  and  hundreds  of  the  rank 


THE  WOMEN  VOTERS  279 

arid  file  of  the  Democratic  party  openly  an- 
nounced their  intention  of  voting-  the  Republican 
ticket.  There  was  a  deep  seated  feeling  that  the 
race  between  Waiteism  and  the  Republican  par- 
ty would  be  a  close  one  and  that  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  possibility  of  Populist  success  it  was 
necessary  to  la}T  aside  partisan  feeling  and  vote 
for  the  ticket  which  stood  the  best  show  of  de- 
feating Waite.  In  this  estimate  of  Populist 
strength  two  important  factors  were  not  consid- 
ered,— the  close,  effective  work  of  the  state  com- 
mittee, and  the  woman  vote.  Chairman  Howbert 
insisted  upon  a  careful,  systematic  canvass  of 
every  precinct  in  the  state,  and  the  standing  of 
every  man  in  the  state  was  known  to  the  local 
committees  and  reported  to  state  headquarters. 
Several  days  before  the  election  the  lowest  esti- 
mate of  the  Republican  plurality  was  12,000,  and 
there  was  never  a  day  from  the  beginning  to  the 
close  of  the  campaign,  when  there  was  a  doubt 
of  the  ultimate  success  of  the  Republican  ticket. 
The  women  of  the  state  were  on  the  side  of  good 
government,  and  signalized  their  entrance  upon 
the  field  of  politics  by  an  earnestness,  an  activity 
and  an  intelligence  that  was  irresistible.  They 
were  not  content  with  the  ordinary  work  of  the 
rank  and  file,  but  went  from  house  to  house  and 
labored  with  their  sex  to  induce  them  to  vote  and 
to  vote  right.  As  an  instance  of  the  thorough- 
ness \vith  which  the  work  of  the  women  was  per- 
formed, in  one  precinct  in  which  52  Republican 
women  voters  were  registered,  but  one  failed  to 
vote,  and  she  was  ill  on  election  day. 


280  WAITJSISM   DISCARDED 

The  Denver  News  occupied  a  peculiar  position 
during1  the  campaign.  After  having  given  the 
most  substantial  proof  of  Governor  Waite's  ab- 
solute unfitness,  and  after  Mr.  Patterson  had 
made  a  most  heroic  struggle  for  the  redemption 
of  the  Populist  part}'  from  Waiteism,  under  the 
mistaken  notion  that  the  two  were  separable,  the 
News  supported  the  Populist  ticket,  and  appar- 
ently \vith  a  relish. 

The  result  of  the  election  was  a  surprise  to  the 
Populists.  The>^  reallj'  expected  to  carr}*  the 
state  by  an  increased  majorit}^  over  that  of  1892 
The>^  even  expected,  having  control  of  all  the 
machinery  of  the  state  and  city  of  Denver,  tocar- 
ry  Arapahoe  count y.  The  latter  gave  15,268  and 
the  state  19,604  plurality  for  Mclntire.  The  rest 
of  the  Republican  state  ticket  was  elected  by  plu- 
ralities ranging  from  8,682  to  23,351;  Shafroth  wn^ 
elected  to  Congress  from  the  first  district  by  a 
plurality  of  13,487,  Bell's  majority  of  12,905  in 
1892  was  cut  down  to  5,334,  and  the  legislature 
stood  in  the  senate,  15  Republicans,  17  Populists 
and  3  Democrats,  and  in  the  House  43  Republi- 
cans and  22  Populists  and  Democrats. 

It  is  probable  that  there  was  more  sincere  re- 
joicing over  the  result  of  this  election  than  over 
that  of  any  of  its  predecessors.  The  personnel 
of  the  ticket  had  very  little  to  do  with  this  feeling. 
It  would  have  been  modified,  perhaps,  but  fully 
as  sincere,  if  Mr.  Thomas  had  been  the  success- 
ful candidate  for  governor.  The  victory  of  the 
Republican  party  in  1894  was  the  awakening 
from  a  political  nightmare  and  all  of  its  horrid 


THE  STATE   REDEEMED  281 

accompaniments.  It  was  a  return  from  political 
foll3r  to  political  common  sense;  a  change  from 
political  blackguardism  to  political  decency,  at 
least.  For  a  time  there  was  great  fear  that  the 
state  had  been  turned  over  to  Waiteism,  and 
that  there  was  no  hope  of  anything  except  years 
of  such  misrule  as  had  been  the  political  ruin  of 
Kansas,  but  the  people  were  satisfied  with  one 
experiment.  It  had  been  exceedingly  costly,  but 
the  experience  was  worth  the  outlay,  and  it  is 
hardly  likely  that  any  similar  party  will  ever 
again  ride  into  power  on  a  wave  of  popular  in- 
dignation resulting  from  the  injustice  done  to 
silver.  Better  almost  any  present  misery  than  a 
repetition  of  the  experiment  of  Populism. 

A  slight  wave  of  anger  and  possible  alarm 
was  occasioned  between  the  election  and  the  in- 
auguration of  the  governor  by  the  foolish  talk  of 
some  of  the  Populist  leaders  to  the  effect  that 
though  there  seemed  to  be  a  majority  against 
them,  it  was  due  to  their  being  counted  out,  but 
that  they  had  the  last  count,  referring  to  the  fact 
that  the  official  canvass  of  the  vote  was  to  be 
made  by  a  Populist  canvassing  board.  Their 
error  was  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  another 
exhibition  of  Populist  folly. 

When  the  question  of  United  States  senator 
came  up  it  was  found  that  although  in  almost 
ever}^  legislative  district  in  the  state  it  had  been 
openly  declared  that  the  re-election  of  Senator 
Wolcott  was  the  main  issue  of  the  campaig'n, 
there  was  so  strong  an  opposition  to  him  among 
Republican  members  that  a  sufficient  number 


282  A   SENATORIAL  FLURRY 

were  found  willing-  to  join  with  the  opposition 
and  elect  another  senator.  The  combine  was  all 
arranged  and  would  undoubted^  have  been  car- 
ried out,  had  it  been  able  to  find  a  suitable  man 
willing1  to  accept  an  election  to  the  senate  under 
such  circumstances.  But  the  man  could  not  be 
found,  and  appearing-  on  the  surface  to  have 
smooth  sailing-,  Senator  Wolcott  received  the  cau- 
cus nomination  and  was  elected,  receiving  ,~j7 
votes  to  39  for  Pence  and  3  for  Thomas. 


OFFICIAL  VOTE,  1894. 

FIFTY-FOURTH  CONGRESS. 

1st  Dist.  — J.  F.  Shafroth 47,710    Lafe  Pence 34,223 

2d      "      — Thos.  M.  Bowen.,42,369    John  C.  Bell 47,703 

STATE  OFFICERS. 

Governor— A.  W.  Mclntire 92,507    Davis  H.  Waite 74,894 

Lt-Gov.    — J.  L.  Brush 90,654    S.  W.  Harmon 72,480 

Secy  St'e— A.  B.  McGaff oy 89,172    N.  O.  McClees 73,528 

Treas.       — H.  E.  Mulnix 89,947    C.  Barela 81,205 

Auditor  — C.  C.  Parks 89,670    S.  F.  Lincoln 73,087 

Atty  Gen— Byron  L.  Carr 90,262    H.  T.  Sales 73,006 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 

—Mrs.  A.  J.  Peavey 87,765    Alice  M.  Catlin 72,266 

Regents  of  the  University 

— C.  R.  Dudley 92,803    Barney  O'Driscoll. ...69,452 

— S.  A.  Giffin 89,117    L.  J.  Morrison 71,388 

Governor— C.  S.  Thomas. .... .8337    Atty-Gen.— J.  M.  Brinson. ...8164 

Lt-Gov.    — F.  J.  Mefcton 9296    Sup't  of  Schools 

Sec'y  St'e— J.  Ernest  Meiere...9133  — C.  C.Bradford. .10.083 

Auditor   —Jos.  S.  Swan 8448    Regents  — C.  R.  Dudley... 92,803 

Treas.      — C.  Barela 81,205  — F.  E.  Wheeler...  9545 

JUDICIARY. 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 

—John  Campbell 90.843    J.  Warner  Mills 76,487 

District  Judges. 

1st  Dist.  — C.  F.  Becker. ...  ...  4059 


2d       '«     —G.W.Allen 33,798 

— O.  E.  LeFevre 32,603 

— C.  P.  Butler 32,280 

—P.  L.  Palmer 32,075 

— F.  T.  Johnson 32,030 

3d       "      — J.  G.  Northcutt 4452 

4th     "     —Ira  Harris  10,472 

5th*   "     —  T.  A.  Dickson 3013 

5th     ' '      —John  M .  Maxwell 3659 

6th     "     — Geo.  T.  Sumner 2464 

7th*  "     —No  opposition 


A.  H.  DeFrance 5121 

S.  L.  Carpenter 19,925 

A.  S.  Frost 18,842 

Geo.  C.  Norris 20,888 

A.  J.  Rising 21,839 

E.  J.  Short 20,076 

J.  C.  Gunter 4061 

K.  R.  Babbitt 7355 

F.  W.  Owers 2100 

F.  W.  Owers 4596 

J.  L.  Russell 2929 

W.  A.  Gabbert 3794 


*General  Election  of  1893,  to  fill  vacancies. 


OFFICIAL   VOTE   1894— CONTINUED 


District  Judges  continued. 
7th  Dist.— L.  Twitchell . . . 


. .  4238    W.  A.  Gabbert 678:? 


8th      " 
9th     " 

—James  E  Garri^nes.,  .  . 

.  .  8103    Jay  H.  Boughton.  .  .  . 
.3078    Tho<*  A    Rucker 

.  .8170 
42  ;0 

10th*  " 

Platt  Wicks 

.2657    J.  H  Voorhies 

288° 

-J.  C.  Elwell  
—  N.  W.  Dixon  

...4910    J,  H.  Voorhies  
...5189    J.  J.  Me  Feeler 

..5667 
4424 

llth   " 
12th   " 

—  Hosea  Townsend  
—  C.  C.  Holbrook 

...4435    M.  S.  Bailey  
.  4838    E.  F.  Richardson. 

.  .  5392 
.3693 

13th   " 

--E.  E.  Armour  

.  .  1860    James  Glynn 

.157* 

District 
1st  Dist. 

2d      " 

Attorneys. 
-A.  D.  Bullis  
-G.  W.  Whitford  

.     3946    E.  C.  Mason  
.  32.534    Ralph  Talbot  

..4974 
19,727 

3d      " 

—  R.  R.  Ross  

4510    Orlando  Hitt. 

3891 

4th    " 
5th*  *k 

—  H.  M.  Blackmer  
—A.  T.  Gunnell.t  

.10,472    J.  M.  Johnson  
1882    Wm.  A.  Guyselman 

..7415 
2093 

5th     " 
6th    " 

—Frank  E.  Purple^  
—  S.  W.  Carpenter 

...3731    L.  R.  Thomas  
1809    T.  J.  Tarsney 

..4755 

.  2709 

7th    " 

-T  Y    Bradshaw 

4^11    L  J  Henry 

6321 

8th    " 

—  Geo  W.  Bailey 

7991    A.  C.  Patton 

8170 

9th    " 

—  Geo  D  Johnson 

:?  "59    W.  B.  Wiley        .  . 

3969 

10th  " 

—Geo.  W.  Collins 

.5322    D.M.Campbell... 

.  .  4(i()»'» 

llth  " 

C  C  Daws  on 

1755    James  I   Locke.. 

5071 

12th  " 
13  tli  " 

—  T.  D.  McDonald  
—  Granville  Pendloton. 

...4618    Chas.  D.  Jones  
.1*145     W.  W.  McCollister. 

.  .  383S 
.  .  1M9 

TKNTH  GENERAL   ASSEMBLY. 


SENATE. 

President  pro  tern.  Fred  Lockwood. 


Secretary — A.  B.  Gray. 


1st 

Dist.—  H.  Armstrong 

3d   Dis 

it.—  M.  A.  Leddy 

—  W.  B.  Felker 

—  A.  R.  Kennedy 

—Chas.  Hartzell 

4th    4k 

—  Casimero  Barela 

—Oscar  Renter 

5th    " 

—  Fred  L.  Lockwood 

—P.  J.  Sours 

6th    " 

—Austin  Blakey 

-C.  E.  Locke 

7th    " 

—David  Boyd 

2d 

"     —  James  F.  Drake 

>sth    " 

—  H.  R.  Brown 

—Jesse  G.  Morton 

9th    " 

-  J.  G-  Johnson 

*General  election  of  1893,  to  fill  vacancies. 
fDemocratic  fusion. 
^Republican  fusion. 


X  I XTH    GKX E R A L   A SS K MBLY 


285 


Senate  continued 

10th  Dist.— James  C.  Evans 

llth 

12th 

13th 

14th 

15th 

16th 

17th 

18th 

19th 


20th  Dist.— Geo.  E.  Pease 


— B.  Clark  Wheeler  21st       "    — D.  A.  Mills 

"    —  R.  Turner  22d        "    — E.  W.  Merritt 

"    -C.  C.  Graham  23d         "    — G.  W.  Swink 

"    — J.T.  McNeeley  24th      "    — Wm.  H.  Adams 

"    — F.  E.  Moody  25th      "    —Jos.  H.  Painter 

"    — W.  M.  Fulton  26th      "    — H.  O.  Balsinger 

"    —  J.  O.  Campbell  27th      "    —John  R.  Gordon 

"    —  F.  Campy  28th      "    —Patrick  Crowe 
'    — C.  Newman 

HOUSE  OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 

Speaker— A.  L.  Humphrey  Clerk— J.  R.  Wallingford. 


Arapahoe     —  L.  Anfenger 
— W.  S.  Bales 
— C.  W.  Campbell 
— Jas.  H.  Clarke 
— Clara  Cressingham 
— A.  L.  Fribourg 
— Frances  S.  Kloek 
-W.  H.  Macomber 
-A.  F.  Peck 
--Wm.  B.  Rundie 
— Alex,  Stewart 
— Jos.  H.  Stuart 
— A.  I.  Warren 

Boulder        — E.  Greenman 
— H.  M  Miner 
—Geo.  Ranson 

Chatfee         — G.  M.  Hollenbeck 

Clear  Creek — Jos.  Gallagher 

Conejos        — C.  Garcia 

Conejos  and  Archulota 

— F.  G.  Blake 

Cost  ill  a        —A.  A.  Salazar 

Custer          —A.  DeBord 

Dolores  and  Montezuma 

—Geo.  J.  Ashbaugh 

Douglas       — W.  I.  Whittier 

Eagle  —Geo.  W.  Jenks 

Elbert  and  Lincoln 

— Theodore  S.  Harper 


Kl  Paso         — C.  G.  Collais 

— A.  L,  Humphrey 

—I.  J.  Woodworth 
Fremont       — D.  Crow 
Fremont  and  Chaff ee 

— H.  S.  Tomkins 
Garfield       — J.  H.  Murfitt 
Gilpin  —J.R.Mitchell 

Grand  and  Summit 

— C.  L.  Westerman 
Gunnison  — J.  W,  Rockefeller 
Hinsdale  and  San  Juan 

— Casper  Malchus 
Huerfano     -M.  A.  Vi^il 
Jefferson      — J.  M.  Morris 
Kiowa,  Baca  and  Prowers 

— J.  C.Funderburgh 
Kit  Carson  and  Cheyenne 

— W.  L.  Patchen 
Lake  — W.  Morrell 

— T.  F.  O'Mahoney 
La  Plata     -J.  W.  Wallace 
Larimer       — R.  D.  Miller 
Las  Animas— R.  H.  Purington 

— W.  R.  Sopris 
Las  Animas  and  Bent 

-W.  A  Colt 
Logan,  Sedgwick,  and  Phillips 

— J.  S.  Carnahan 


286  TENTH   GENERAL   ASSEMBLY 

House  of  Representatives  continued. 

Mesa  — M,  V.  B.  Page  Rio  Grande  and  Mineral 

Montrose  and  Delta  — U.  W.  Roe 

— J.  B.  Hart  Routt  and  Rio  Blanco 
Otero            — W.  N.  Randall  —  J.  W.  Lowell 

Ouray  —  C.  Von  Hagen  Saguache    — J.  L.  Hurst 

Park  — S.  M.  Lasell  San  Miguel— Jas.  McWilliams 

Pitkin  —Fred  Light  Weld  —B,  F.Johnson 

Pueblo          — J.  F.  Allee  — G.  W.  Twombly 

— J.  D.  Brown  Yuma,  Morgan  &  Washington 

—Carrie  C.  Holly  —A.  C.  Wilkins 

— X.  Kearney 


